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.
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.
One more prelim! Jonathan Martinez faces Marcus McGhee at bantamweight, with some fans and fighters expecting the bout of the night here.
Alex Pattle17 November 2024 02:26
UFC 309 LIVE: Jim Miller vs Damon Jackson
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)
Alex Pattle17 November 2024 02:08
UFC 309 LIVE: David Onama vs Roberto Romero
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.
Alex Pattle17 November 2024 01:59
UFC 309 LIVE: David Onama vs Roberto Romero
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.
Alex Pattle17 November 2024 01:57
UFC 309 LIVE: David Onama vs Roberto Romero
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.
Alex Pattle17 November 2024 01:45
UFC 309 LIVE: Marcin Tybura vs Jhonata Diniz
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)
Alex Pattle17 November 2024 01:26
UFC 309 LIVE: Regular prelims
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 thatChris Weidman vs Eryk Anders was cancelled on VERY short notice, due to Anders being ill.
Alex Pattle17 November 2024 01:07
UFC 309 LIVE: Mickey Gall vs Ramiz Brahimaj
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)
Alex Pattle17 November 2024 00:45
UFC 309 LIVE: Bassil Hafez vs Oban Elliott
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)
Alex Pattle17 November 2024 00:24
UFC 309 LIVE: Bassil Hafez vs Oban Elliott
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.
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