UFC 309 LIVE: Jon Jones fights Stipe Miocic in heavyweight title clash – latest updates and results

Jon Jones will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 tonight, a year after the fight was first scheduled.

Jones and Miocic were due to meet at Madison Square Garden last November, but a torn pectoral muscle forced “Bones” out of the fight – delaying his first title defence by 12 months. Now the former light-heavyweight champion, 37, and heavyweight great Miocic, 42, will meet at MSG at long last, though their fight has proven controversial.

When their bout fell through last year, Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich stepped up, with the Briton knocking out the Russian to become interim champion. Since then, Aspinall has even retained the interim belt – a rare occurrence in the UFC – leading many fans to see him as the true champion.

Jones, meanwhile, has not fought since winning the vacant heavyweight title in March 2023, and Miocic has not fought in almost four years. Furthermore, Miocic’s last fight ended in a vicious KO loss, and he and Jones have both hinted at retirement after tonight’s bout... potentially leaving Aspinall in the lurch.

Follow live updates and results from the main UFC 309 main card and prelims, below.

UFC 309 LIVE

• Jon Jones defends heavyweight title against former champion Stipe Miocic

• Fight was due 12 months ago, but injured Jones withdrew from contest

• Interim champ Tom Aspinall awaits, should neither Jones, 37, nor Miocic, 42, retire

• Co-main event is rematch between Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira

• Oliveira submitted Chandler in 2021 to win vacant lightweight title

• Rematch comes after Chandler waited 18 months for failed Conor McGregor fight

• Chris Weidman vs Eryk Anders cancelled on short notice, with Anders ill

• Trump returns to MSG to watch fights – weeks after controversial rally

UFC 309: Bo Nickal vs Paul Craig

04:49 , Alex Pattle

Round three

Massive overhand right from Nickal, but the same trend continues: Craig eats it well.

There’s a period of inactivity, and Craig taunts Nickal. Meanwhile, the crowd boos.

Hard low kick by Nickal. Another overhand left, and Craig felt this one more than the others! He backs up to the fence, eyes wide, but Nickal isn’t throwing any follow-ups!

Nickal allowed Craig to recover there, and the Scot comes forward now. He is cut, though, around his right eye.

The crowd, which was chanting for Nickal before, is now saying: “O-ver-rat-ed.” Craig addresses the sound, making sure Nickal is listening.

Bo Nickal def. Paul Craig via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Boos for Nickal, who stays unbeaten!

UFC 309: Bo Nickal vs Paul Craig

04:43 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Between rounds, Craig tells his corner: “I’m just having so much fun.”

Nice jab by Nickal from an orthodox stance. Low kick by Craig, who is apparently talking to his opponent. Once again, Craig is just out of range of that southpaw overhand from Nickal.

Lots of kicks by Craig. Nickal is getting closer with that big left. Craig is trying to counter with left hooks. Nickal invests in the body.

Nickal lands the overhand clean, but from the right. Craig absorbs it well, to be honest. Clean left cross to the body of Craig.

More kicks from Craig, who checks a low effort from Nickal. Now the American connects with a southpaw cross; it’s clean, but Craig seems unfazed.

Another left snaps back Craig’s head, but still the Scot is undeterred. Craig keeps hammering kicks at the arms of Nickal.

UFC 309: Bo Nickal vs Paul Craig

04:31 , Alex Pattle

Round one

Both men stand orthodox. Nickal takes the centre of the ring. Now he switches stances. Craig hops about, looking to stay light on his feet.

Hard outside low kick by Nickal. He just about lands a big overhand left from southpaw... Craig moved back just enough to lessen the impact.

Nickal continues to change stances. He keeps throwing bombs, too, but he’s stumbled by a low kick. Again Craig lands a leg kick, but he’s tagged upstairs at the same time.

Craig checks an inside low kick and says something to Nickal, who then blocks a head kick – and another. “Bo” is the chant in MSG.

Stabbing side kick from Nickal, who follows up with a single-leg attempt, but he quickly lets go. A couple more hard left overhands land for Nickal, but Craig is taking them well... so far.

Right hand gets through for Craig, and Nickal circles away. Elbow from Craig. Nickal with more grazing overhands. Interesting round. 15-15 in significant strikes.

UFC 309: Bo Nickal vs Paul Craig

04:19 , Alex Pattle

Three fights left! Next up, Scottish veteran Paul Craig faces unbeaten up-and-comer Bo Nickal at middleweight.

American Nickal, 28, is just 6-0, but he’s been highly impressive since making his MMA debut in 2022.

All of his wins have come via stoppage (two KOs, four submissions), and five of them have been achieved in round one. In fact, three came inside one minute.

He’s a wrestling specialist, but he has powerful hands, too. Meanwhile, Craig is known for his jiu-jitsu expertise and submission threat.

UFC 309 LIVE: Viviane Araujo vs Karine Silva

04:17 , Alex Pattle

Round three

A fun scramble early in this round, and Araujo gets side control. It’s a rare moment of dominance from her, but she stands and lets Silva up!

Silva soon drops to her back, in a strange move, but Araujo refuses to follow her to the mat. Instead, she kicks Silva’s legs until Silva stands.

Now Silva presses forward. High kick from her, then two front kicks. None of those strikes quite land.

She kicks high again, and it’s caught. Again, Silva just falls to her back. She looks so tired, but she’s also trying to get Araujo to enter a grappling exchange.

Again, Araujo lets her fellow Brazilian stand, and YET AGAIN Silva falls down! Once more, Silva stands, and she actually has some success on the feet, landing a knee to the body in the clinch.

But Araujo ends the fight well, with a takedown.

Viviane Araujo def. Karine Silva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

UFC 309 LIVE: Viviane Araujo vs Karine Silva

04:10 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Silva crashes forward with a hefty right cross, and Araujo’s face is sporting a fair bit of blood now...

Silva holds Araujo against the fence for a while, before the fighters separate and move into space.

Araujo seems to be bleeding from her nose, and she’s breathing with her mouth open. She’s eating hard right hands while trapped against the fence...

Silva with some grappling success now, securing a trip! Araujo is able to stand, but now she’s getting kneed against the cage wall.

Another trip by Silva, but Araujo is able to work on an armbar in the ensuing grappling phase... Silva rotates well to kill that submission.

She’s into side control. Araujo tries to scramble but gets caught in a D’Arce... but she escapes, and as the pair move about, she’s able to land strikes from above.

UFC 309 LIVE: Viviane Araujo vs Karine Silva

03:59 , Alex Pattle

Women’s flyweight action now, as Viviane Araujo faces Karine Silva. Under way!

Round one

Silva presses forward early. Araujo is kept moving laterally.

Araujo with plenty of feints, trying to deter Silva. Decent cross by Araujo, then she eats a low kick.

Silva misses with a couple of front kicks, but she lands low again – and again.

Silva tries a single-leg, but to no avail. More front-kick efforts from her, tons of them.

Araujo has been quite accurate with her output while moving backwards and sideways.

Ohhhh! But she’s stunned by a left hand, then a right! She’s able to move away and recompose herself, but that was a nice moment for Silva.

Silva lands a strike after the buzzer and apologises.

UFC 309 LIVE: Mauricio Ruffy vs James Llontop

03:41 , Alex Pattle

Round three

Llontop is going forward, making this messy for Ruffy, who is slowing down.

Ruffy with some well-timed counters, though. Llontop investing in the body with straight shots. Now he kicks low.

Llontop is mainly orthodox now. He very slooooowly tries a single-leg, and Ruffy is able to shake it off.

Two hard inside low kicks from Llontop. Ruffy with a sharp punch on the turn! Lovely stuff.

And the final buzzer sounds.

Mauricio Ruffy def. James Llontop via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

UFC 309 LIVE: Mauricio Ruffy vs James Llontop

03:35 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Llontop is pressing forward, keeping Ruffy moving and thinking.

But Ruffy lands a great, no-look left hook while he’s getting backed up, and he drops Llontop this time!!

For a second, it looks like this one might be done, as Ruffy pours on strikes... but Llontop manages to scramble back to his feet!

His left eye is swelling badly. Wheel kick from Ruffy. Hard straight by Llontop.

Blood is streaming down Llontop’s face now. I’m not sure if there’s a cut on his nose or an eye.

UFC 309 LIVE: Mauricio Ruffy vs James Llontop

03:28 , Alex Pattle

After a bit of a delay, the pair are in the cage. And we’re under way.

Round one

Both fighters stand orthodox, though Llontop is teasing stance switches.

Ruffy misses with a biggggg overhand attempt. It’s a little cagey so far.

Now the 165lbers start to open up a bit more. Llontop is the busier of the two. Twice he lands crosses, with Ruffy just about landing hooks at the same time.

OH! Huge right cross by Ruffy, and Llontop stumbles backwards, but Ruffy throws a wild spinning kick and gets it awfully wrong!

A missed opportunity for Ruffy.

UFC 309 LIVE: Mauricio Ruffy vs James Llontop

03:08 , Alex Pattle

Here’s the main card, in reverse order:

Jon Jones (champion) vs Stipe Miocic (heavyweight title)

Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler 2 (lightweight, five rounds)

Bo Nickal vs Paul Craig (middleweight)

Viviane Araujo vs Karine Silva (women’s flyweight)

Mauricio Ruffy vs James Llontop (165lb catchweight)

So, Ruffy vs Llontop will get the main card started in a few moments...

Donald Trump returns to MSG weeks after controversial rally for UFC 309

03:01 , Alex Pattle

Trump is in the building...

Donald Trump to return to MSG weeks after controversial rally for UFC 309 – reports

UFC 309 LIVE: Jonathan Martinez vs Marcus McGhee

02:51 , Alex Pattle

Round three

A messy exchange ends with Martinez landing a left hook. Back comes McGhee with a low kick, then a combination of body shots, then another leg kick.

But it’s Martinez’s leg kicks that are doing greater damage!! McGhee is hobbling about now!

He’s even switched to orthodox. Martinez with a poor move, though, shooting for a clinch against the fence. What is he thinking??

Eventually the pair separate, and Martinez lands another debilitating leg kick. McGhee is all over the place. His balance is so off.

But Martinez wasted a whole minute grappling! Where was the fight IQ? Why was his corner not screaming at him to back off?

McGhee makes it to the bell, and he should get the decision.

He does: Marcus McGhee def. Jonathan Martinez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

UFC 309 LIVE: Jonathan Martinez vs Marcus McGhee

02:45 , Alex Pattle

Round two

McGhee is still a step ahead, but Martinez lands a winging left hand now.

McGhee with a lead uppercut into a cross, though. Nice. He then sets up a right hook with a southpaw one-two.

Tidy jabs from McGhee, but Martinez breaks up that stream of shots with a cross. Now a step-in elbow! Great work from Martinez.

He’s coming on stronger now. Ouch, harrrrsh low kick by him in the final seconds of the round.

UFC 309 LIVE: Jonathan Martinez vs Marcus McGhee

02:39 , Alex Pattle

One more prelim! Jonathan Martinez faces Marcus McGhee at bantamweight, with some fans and fighters expecting the bout of the night here.

There’s a slight delay before this one starts, with ref Herb Dean taking issue with the length of Martinez’s toenails! How bizarre. “I’m not gonna clip those now,” says the official...

Round one

Both men are standing southpaw. McGhee tries two right hooks in a row. Now a left. He kicks low.

Martinez with very little output so far. He’s thrown six strikes in three minutes, landing just two.

Good jab from McGhee, then more leg kicks. Martinez with a decent jab and a heavy leg kick.

UFC 309 LIVE: Jonathan Martinez vs Marcus McGhee

02:26 , Alex Pattle

One more prelim! Jonathan Martinez faces Marcus McGhee at bantamweight, with some fans and fighters expecting the bout of the night here.

UFC 309 LIVE: Jim Miller vs Damon Jackson

02:08 , Alex Pattle

Nice reaction for Miller. And we’re under way.

Round one

Jackson with a pair of hooks early, right then left. Miller stands southpaw as he looks to find a way through. And he lands a sniping cross.

Jackson works on a single-leg takedown, driving Miller to the fence. Miller gets free, and as the pair trade hands, he cuts Jackson somewhere along the way.

Jackson with a front kick to the body; he’s thrown that a few times already. And again.

Oh, clean southpaw cross from Miller. Lovely shot. Jackson rolls under another punch, shooting for a double-leg takedown, but Miller reacts quickly with a guillotine attempt!

And he gets the tap! Clinical from the legend.

Jim Miller def. Damon Jackson via first-round submission (guillotine choke, 2:44)

UFC 309 LIVE: David Onama vs Roberto Romero

01:59 , Alex Pattle

David Onama def. Roberto Romero via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

No doubts about that one. It was fun, though!

More lightweight action now: veteran Jim Miller faces Damon Jackson.

UFC 309 LIVE: David Onama vs Roberto Romero

01:57 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Onama tags Romero again, and the latter is on unsteady legs once more. But still he presses forward...

Onama with a clubbing left hook, then a trio of BRUTAL punches. The sound on these shots, jeez.

And down goes Romero again! Onama flies into his guard, and Romero holds on, trying to slow down his opponent.

Another round in the books.

Round three

More good work from Onama. Clean straights and hooks, as Romero’s face grows bloodier. Now Onama talks some trash.

But against the run of play, he goes down! It’s just from a well-timed leg kick, however, and he pops back up.

Nice head kick from Roberto, though Onama is able to just about catch it to lessen the impact. He turns it into a takedown, too.

Roberto stands quickly, but he’s taken down again, and Onama is in mount, also tying up his opponent’s legs. Eventually Onama stands, so he can come back down with strikes.

It’s an emphatic end to the fight from Onama.

UFC 309 LIVE: David Onama vs Roberto Romero

01:45 , Alex Pattle

Next up, David Onama faces Roberto Romero at lightweight.

Onama was due to face Lucas Almeida at featherweight, but the latter withdrew this week. In steps Romero, with the bout taking place at 155lb, not 145lb.

Round one

Lots of stance switches from Onama, but he’s being too passive early on, as Romero starts very fast!

Plenty of output from Romero, including a slew of low kicks. Good elbow from Onama in the clinch, though.

KNOCKDOWN! Romero drops Onama, before taking the back and trying a rear naked choke!

Onama is lucid enough to fight the hands well, keeping Romero’s arm over his chin – not his neck.

And Onama is able to shake off Romero, while standing up. The pair then grapple against the fence for a while, before separating.

Clean right hook from Romero! Onama felt that... OH!!! But Onama lands hard, and Romero is in a world of hurt!

Onama lands two more mean shots, as Romero’s legs wobble all over the place, and eventually Romero falls! He survives to the buzzer, though!

WHAT A ROUND.

UFC 309 LIVE: Marcin Tybura vs Jhonata Diniz

01:26 , Alex Pattle

Round one

Tybura is tagged with a left hand while shooting for a takedown! He falls to his back, and Diniz moves into half-guard, where he rains down some elbows.

Tybura does well to sweep, and now he’s in Diniz’s half-guard, landing his own shots. Diniz can’t get out from under his opponent.

Tybura eventually moves to mount, where he ends the round in control.

Round two

Diniz presses forward and lands a cross, but Tybura responds with a hard left hand. One-two is there for Diniz.

Tybura with a takedown, then some good work from half-guard. Like in the first round, he moves to mount...

Late in the round, Tybura starts to land some vicious elbows! He slices open Diniz, who is in real trouble!

Diniz makes it to the bell, but how far will he make it through round three?

OH! He won’t even make it INTO round three! A doctor advises referee Herb Dean to stop the fight, to save Diniz – whose face is a mess. Good call.

Marcin Tybura def. Jhonata Diniz via second-round TKO (doctor stoppage, 5:00)

UFC 309 LIVE: Regular prelims

01:07 , Alex Pattle

Onto the regular prelims! In reverse order, we’ve got:

Jonathan Martinez vs Marcus McGhee (bantamweight)

Jim Miller vs Damon Jackson (lightweight)

David Onama vs Roberto Romero (lightweight)

Marcin Tybura vs Jhonata Diniz (heavyweight)

A reminder that Chris Weidman vs Eryk Anders was cancelled on VERY short notice, due to Anders being ill.

UFC 309 LIVE: Mickey Gall vs Ramiz Brahimaj

00:45 , Alex Pattle

Next up, Mickey Gall vs Ramiz Brahimaj at welterweight.

Gall has had an underwhelming UFC career in all honesty, but it began with his famous submission of CM Punk in 2016 – when the latter, a famous WWE star, made his MMA debut.

Round one

Gall’s jiu-jitsu has always been his greatest strength, but he’s been working on his striking in recent times. Can he show improvements here?

One or two clean, well-timed crosses suggest he can. But Brahimaj has moments of success in the opening minutes, too, including a grazing knee in the clinch.

Ohhhh!!!! And now Brahimaj SLEEPS Gall!

He switches stances mid-combination, landing a left hook and right hook, and the latter punch foldssssss Gall.

Ramiz Brahimaj def. Mickey Gall via first-round KO (right hook, 2:55)

UFC 309 LIVE: Bassil Hafez vs Oban Elliott

00:24 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Some better work from Hafez as the round goes on, but the fight is still largely being fought on Elliott’s terms.

The Welshman is managing range well, utilising kicks nicely. He lands a crisp left hook now.

Elliott is also starting to press forward more. Both men land in a tense exchange.

Elliott with a front kick to the face! He might have been trying a crescent kick, in fact. He then leans back to avoid a one-two; that was close.

Round three

OH! Elliott gets the finish early in round three!

He drops Hafez with a brutal overhand right, then pours on punches and hammer fists! Eventually, referee Marc Goddard steps in!

In truth, Elliott might have been allowed to land a few shots too many there...

It looked like he knocked out Hafez, then woke him back up, before Goddard finally intervened.

Oban Elliott def. Bassil Hafez via third-round KO (punches and hammer fists, 0:40)

UFC 309 LIVE: Bassil Hafez vs Oban Elliott

00:16 , Alex Pattle

Onto welterweight action, between Bassil Hafez and Wales’s Oban Elliott.

Round one

Both men stand orthodox. There’s some early grappling between the pair, against the fence, initiated by Hafez.

They separate, and Elliott lands a hard body kick. He throws more and eventually goes too low on one, and is warned.

More body kicks by the Welshman, but they’re front kicks now.

Hafez has the centre of the ring and misses with a winging overhand right. He lands a spiteful kick of his own, and Elliott wags his finger to say it didn’t hurt him.

Good first round for Elliott.

UFC 309 LIVE: Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura

Saturday 16 November 2024 23:58 , Alex Pattle

Round three

Before the final round, Hardy’s husband – in her corner – calls for more action and more risks.

Hardy obliges as the round progresses, but will it be enough as we go to the judges’ scorecards?

Let’s see...

Not enough! Moura gets it done!

Eduarda Moura def. Veronica Hardy via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

UFC 309 LIVE: Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura

Saturday 16 November 2024 23:51 , Alex Pattle

Round one

Hardy, with her husband in her corner, stands southpaw. Moura is orthodox.

Moura takes the centre of the ring for most of the first round, pressing forward. She switches stances here and there.

Hardy invests in the body of her opponent throughout.

Moura with a fair few missed punches from range, loading up big.

Hardy with a body kick late in the round, and Moura catches it, taking down her opponent.

Round two

Another takedown for Moura, who drags down Hardy by the cage wall.

Moura has the back, but Hardy does well to stand quite quickly.

Moura controls Hardy for the bulk of the round, and late on, she ends up in Hardy’s guard by the fence.

Hard elbow from Moura, who then stands and eats a couple of up-kicks by Hardy.

UFC 309 LIVE: Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura

Saturday 16 November 2024 23:33 , Alex Pattle

Okay, the first fight is finally here; the broadcast team had to fill some time, of course, with Weidman vs Anders cancelled.

Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura, a women’s flyweight contest, gets us started.

Hardy is the wife of former UFC title challenger Dan Hardy.

UFC 309 LIVE: Michael Bisping interview

Saturday 16 November 2024 22:58 , Alex Pattle

We spoke to UFC legend Michael Bisping about tonight’s main event, and he answered some of the overlooked questions ahead of Jones vs Miocic:

Jones vs Miocic won’t bring ‘traditional’ KO, Michael Bisping predicts

UFC 309 LIVE: Chandler vs Oliveira in co-main event

Saturday 16 November 2024 22:54 , Alex Pattle

UFC 309 LIVE: Dana White confirms plans for Jones vs Tom Aspinall

Saturday 16 November 2024 22:52 , Alex Pattle

Jones has said he has no interest in facing Aspinall, if he gets past Miocic tonight.

But UFC president Dana White will seemingly not let Jones off that easy...

Dana White confirms UFC plans for Jon Jones v Tom Aspinall

UFC 309 LIVE: Fight card in full – prelims and main card

Saturday 16 November 2024 22:37 , Alex Pattle

Main card

Jon Jones (champion) vs Stipe Miocic (heavyweight title)

Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler 2 (lightweight, five rounds)

Bo Nickal vs Paul Craig (middleweight)

Viviane Araujo vs Karine Silva (women’s flyweight)

Mauricio Ruffy vs James Llontop (165lb catchweight)

Prelims

Jonathan Martinez vs Marcus McGhee (bantamweight)

Jim Miller vs Damon Jackson (lightweight)

David Onama vs Roberto Romero (lightweight)

Marcin Tybura vs Jhonata Diniz (heavyweight)

Early prelims

Mickey Gall vs Ramiz Brahimaj (welterweight)

Bassil Hafez vs Oban Elliott (welterweight)

Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura (women’s flyweight)

Cancelled on short notice: Chris Weidman vs Eryk Anders (middleweight)

UFC 309 card in full as Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic headlines

UFC 309 LIVE

Saturday 16 November 2024 22:00 , Alex Pattle

Jon Jones will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 tonight, a year after the fight was first scheduled.

Jones and Miocic were due to meet at Madison Square Garden last November, but a torn pectoral muscle forced “Bones” out of the fight – delaying his first title defence by 12 months. Now the former light-heavyweight champion, 37, and heavyweight great Miocic, 42, will meet at MSG at long last, though their fight has proven controversial.

When their bout fell through last year, Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich stepped up, with the Briton knocking out the Russian to become interim champion. Since then, Aspinall has even retained the interim belt – a rare occurrence in the UFC – leading many fans to see him as the true champion.

Jones, meanwhile, has not fought since winning the vacant heavyweight title in March 2023, and Miocic has not fought in almost four years. Furthermore, Miocic’s last fight ended in a vicious KO loss, and he and Jones have both hinted at retirement after tonight’s bout... potentially leaving Aspinall in the lurch.