UFC 309 Jones vs. Miocic live updates: Fight times, results ...

The UFC will return to the UK for the 30th time in March of next year for UFC Fight Night. The O2 Arena in London will once again host the action.

Dana White did not allow any public discussion over which fighters were being considered for that event as he immediately — and abruptly — shut down a question on that topic.

Before then, the UFC schedule looks like this:

While there has been plenty of tension between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic this week, there has been nothing but respect between the two men contesting tonight’s co-main event.

Michael Chandler was being jeered in the press conference by fans of his opponent Charles Oliveira, but he didn’t take any issue with that.

“Charles is beloved. If you don't love Charles Oliveira, you're not a mixed martial arts fan,” said the American fighter. “I just saw Charles in the back, it's all respect. If you don't love Charles Oliveira, you can kick rocks.

“We're showing up on Saturday night and we're going to blow the freaking roof off Madison Square Garden and you guys are going to love it.”

There are five fights on the main card this evening. Here’s how each fighter’s professional MMA record stacks up.

Men’s catchweight

Women’s flyweight

Men’s middleweight

Men’s lightweight

???? Men’s heavyweight

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has a long association with the UFC through his well-documented friendship with Dana White.

There is a chance Trump will be in the crowd for today’s action, something Scotsman Paul Craig was asked in the build-up to his fight against Bo Nickal.

“He's not my president — he’s the President of America. I was more excited about getting the opportunity to fight in front of Spiderman in London, (actor) Tom Holland,” said Craig. “It doesn't matter who's in that crowd. You’ve just got a job to do.

“You've got to handle your business and that's what I’m looking to do. But I guess when you think about it, one of the most powerful people in the world sitting in the crowd, watching you at ringside. It's kind of cool and it's one of these stories you can tell your kids or grandkids when you're older.

“I want to walk out in places like Madison Square Garden. Right now it's all about getting Bo Nickal, handling my business, and then looking forward to potentially fighting in London.”

Asked about the comments that seemingly made Jon Jones angry, Stipe Miocic remained relatively nonplussed.

“I don't remember saying that,” he said. “It was no direct thing to him. When I said ‘bring it on b****’, he was calling me out and telling me he was going to beat my a** in front of a whole arena of people. So sorry for defending myself, I apologize.”

Jones had claimed moments beforehand that this fight was personal as a result of those comments. But Miocic did not sound that bothered.

“Every fight is personal, no matter what,” he added. “You’re fighting another man in the octagon, just you against him. It's always personal.”

Jon Jones has been in a changeable mood ahead of the fight.

First, he praised interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall — “he deserves many great things in life” — before then using a swear word to describe the Englishman, appearing irritated at fans shouting Aspinall’s name during the pre-fight press conference.

Then, a previously cordial pre-fight relationship with opponent Stipe Miocic went downhill after Jones took umbrage at Miocic's comments in an interview, insisting respect between the pair was “out the window” and refusing to shake his hand.

Very few fighters have the luxury of a long, illustrious career at the top of the game without tasting defeat.

But Jon Jones has one of the most impressive records in the history of the organization. He enters tonight’s bout with a record of 27 victories and just one defeat. All but six of those victories came in the UFC.

That defeat, which I'm sure will haunt the current heavyweight champion for the rest of his life, came against Matt Hamill in 2009, when Jones was disqualified for using the previously illegal 12-6 elbow.

Stipe Miocic also boasts an impressive record; the 42-year-old has 20 wins and four losses in his MMA career. That record doesn't quite tell the full story, however, as he holds the record for the most consecutive title defenses (three) and most defenses overall (four) in the UFC heavyweight division.

Miocic’s last bout was at UFC 260 in March 2021 when he was knocked out in the second round of his rematch against Francis Ngannou. Jones last fought in March of last year when he forced a first-round submission from Ciryl Gane.

Oban Elliott was only 13 years old when he watched Jon Jones beat Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua at UFC 128 in March 2011.

Now ‘The Welsh Gangster’, 26, is preparing to fight on UFC icon Jones’ undercard, facing off against Bassil Hafez.

Elliott said: “I watched Jon Jones beat Shogun in 2011 on a Sunday morning when I was at school and now I’m fighting on his card! I’m going to be backstage at the weigh-ins with him. I’m fighting on the Jon Jones card. Do you know how mad that is?

“I feel proud of myself but I’m also not surprised, it's my first year in the UFC and we are going to go all the way... All those silly people who doubted me, they’ll have to watch me fight in the world’s most famous arena, living my dream, living my best life.”

There was plenty of love for Tom Aspinall in the pre-fight press conference. And Dana White was emphatic when asked whether the winner of this bout should face the Englishman.

“The winner should absolutely fight Tom,” he responded.

A penny for the thoughts of Jon Jones...

We see it so often in boxing whereby fighters spend months and years dodging certain opponents.

And lots of UFC fans are of the opinion that Jon Jones is doing exactly that with Tom Aspinall, a fighter six years his junior.

Having already told to 'knock it off' chanting the British fighter's name in the press conference, tensions were running high for Jones yesterday. He later refused to do an interview with British journalist Adam Catterall as he anticipated an "Aspinall-fest".

Jones later explained that it was "nothing personal", and there were certainly no hard feelings for Catterall.

The Aspinall questions will only continue for Jones if he beats Miocic later on...

For the loser in the main event tonight, it could be the end of the road. For the winner? Potentially Tom Aspinall, according to UFC president Dana White. The 6ft 5in (196cm) Brit is 15-3 and the interim UFC Heavyweight Champion.

But Jones underlined that it is ‘more than likely’ he would not fight Aspinall next, saying the Salford man “does nothing for my legacy”. He prefers a fight with fellow veteran Alex Pereira.

He told Kevin Iole: “I feel like Tom Aspinall is, I don't want to say nobody, but he just hasn't proven anything. He hasn't done anything. I'm not here to gamble someone else making a name off of me.

“If there were to be a fight of a guy that's still on our UFC roster that would be not only financially worth it but legacy worth it, it would be Alex Pereira... that fight would go much farther on my legacy than a young man who's cool today and maybe gone tomorrow.”

And a visibly annoyed Jones urged fans to “knock it off” when they sung ‘Tommy, Tommy’ at his pre-fight press conference. Watch this space...

For many, Jon Jones is the undisputed greatest MMA fighter of all time. And I'm sure some of those people would put him in the GOAT debate across sports — something he was asked about during the pre-fight press conference.

“MMA is just a different sport. I’m a massive Tom Brady fan, a massive LeBron James, Michael Jordan fan, but fighting transcends the lot,” said Jones.

“If I’ve got this close to being considered in that way, I might as well embrace it. I might as well advocate myself because reaching this level just doesn’t come often. What I’ve done is special and sometimes you’ve got to be your biggest cheerleader.

“My mom isn’t here anymore and she would want me to do that.”

UFC has announced that fighters will not wear the organization's new gloves tonight, but will revert to the original style at UFC 309.

The new gloves, designed to reduce eye pokes, cuts, and hand injuries, were used for the first time at UFC 302 on June 1 and have consistently been in place since, though Jon Jones admitted it was a 'major relief' to go back to the older version.

He said: “They were very uncomfortable for me and I was actually really stressed thinking about how I'm going into fight week wearing these gloves that I don't even want to train in?

“(The UFC) said, ‘Everyone on this card are veterans, why put a bunch of vets in the new glove? Let's give you guys all what you're used to.’”

Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic — who have a combined age of 79 — are hugely experienced inside the Octagon. But with the pair very much in the latter stages of their decorated careers, will the length of time both have been out of competitive action have an impact?

Jones hasn't fought for a year and eight months, back in March 2023. And, perhaps critically, Miocic's last bout was two years before that.

If anyone is anticipating an explosive start, it may be worth tempering your expectations.

As we mentioned a little earlier, today marks Jon Jones’ first fight at Madison Square Garden. He could hardly contain his excitement when he asked about it with the first question of Thursday’s press conference.

“It feels great to be here,” he said. “It's always been a dream of mine to fight at the Garden and I'd be lying if I said this fight didn't feel different. It's a very special thing.

“New York has some of the best fans in the world and I'm glad to be able to give you guys what you want to see.”

Let's take a look at all seven main events that have been hosted at Madison Square Garden.

Neither Jon Jones nor Stipe Miocic have ever fought at Madison Square Garden.

Is there a greater arena in the world than Madison Square Garden?

I'm not so sure.

UFC returns to the heart of New York City for the eighth time this evening and there will be almost 20,000 fans packed inside when Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic take to the octagon.

UFC 205 — headlined by Conor McGregor's TKO defeat of Eddie Alvarez — was the first UFC card to be hosted inside the Garden all the way back in 2016.

McGregor wrapped up his brilliant lightweight victory in the second round in that one — let's hope this evening's main event lasts a little longer!

As I'm sure you will have surmised, the main card is a pay-per-view event.

For those in the United States, it is being streamed on ESPN+ at a cost of $79.99.

In the UK, it is being shown on TNT Sports Box Office with pay-per-view coming at in the relatively modest cost of £19.99. Once purchased, it can be streamed on Discovery+ too.

The prelims, meanwhile, are not behind a paywall. In the U.S., they are available on ESPN+, FX, Fubo and Hulu.

Elsewhere, you will need a UFC Fight Pass subscription to catch the prelims.

As mentioned a couple of minutes ago, there are 13 bouts in all across today's card.

It gets underway with the four early prelims: