Jon Jones still the 'GOAT' if he retires after Stipe Miocic UFC 309 ...

Jon Jones will still go down as the UFC "GOAT" no matter the outcome of his UFC 309 showdown with Stipe Miocic - but whether the American legend retires after the fight all depends on how it goes, believes Michael Bisping.

Jones, 37, is entering the Octagon for the first time since beating Ciryl Gane in March 2023, and this will be just his second fight since February 2020 due to his intervening period away from the UFC.

His opponent Stipe Miocic is five years older at 42, and is also likely to be rusty, with his last bout coming in 2021.

The fight was initially slated for last year but was called off due to an injury to Jones, and as such the anticipation is growing for this long-awaited meeting.

But what could the aftermath bring?

"If it's the very last time we get to see Jon Jones do his thing, then he's still had the greatest legacy, he'll still go down as the GOAT. Would it be a shame? Of course it would," Nick Peet began on the TNT Sports Preview Show.

Joining him was Michael Bisping, who said: "I think it all comes down to how does the fight go.

"If he [Jones] goes out there - and he's said this himself - if he makes it look easy, if he beats him and just blows through him without a challenge, I think we're going to see Jon back, I think we're going to see Tom Aspinall, I think we might even see Alex Pereira as well.

"This is all negotiations from Jon. He knows what he's doing. He's a master at this stuff. He's got a tremendous amount of experience, not only in the Octagon, but how to deal and negotiate with the UFC and how to have the fans in the palm of his hand, wanting and talking and causing controversy.

"He's very, very calculated. But none of that matters if he goes out there and gets flatlined by Stipe, which is a real possibility. This man hits harder than anybody he's fought. He's going to be harder to take down than almost anybody that he's fought - the only other person would be Daniel Cormier. DC gave Stipe a run for his money in the wrestling department.

"It's not a given that Jon wins this fight."

Much of the pre-fight talk has centred on Jones' possible next move, with a mooted meeting with Britain's Tom Aspinall discussed.

Jones called Aspinall an "a******" during his pre-fight press conference, and said he didn't want to entertain the idea of fighting him.

Bisping, who revealed he had spoken to Aspinall about those comments, said: "It's special when Jon Jones fights, it's as simple as that. Given the fact that it might be the last time ever, I think it's going to feel even more special - and for Stipe as well.

"And considering all the storyline and the narratives and Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones calling him an "a******", which is crazy.

"Tom is one of the nicest, most humble guys that you'll ever meet. We had dinner with him last night and Tom was kind of scratching his head.

"If Tom was an "a******", he'd be talking a lot more. He'd be bringing up skeletons from Jon's past. He's not doing any of that, he's been very respectful.

"Even when he knocked out Curtis Blaydes he was just like 'Hello Jon, I want to fight you because I think I can beat you.' He didn't go on the offensive, didn't call him any names, didn't bring up any controversies, he just feels that he can beat him, and he truly deserves the opportunity to prove that."

Elsewhere on the stacked card is Michael Chandler's meeting with the ever-popular Charles Oliveira, and Peet and Bisping mulled over the surprise reception Chandler got at the pre-fight face-off.

Peet said: "Michael Chandler is the MVP of Madison Square Garden UFC events, it's always him. And yet he's getting booed by the US fans.

"But that's because everybody loves Charlie Oliveira, and that's because he's the most entertaining fighter in the UFC. He's got the most finishes in the UFC, and he pulls off a bright red suit, dripping in gold, no socks.

"Anybody else dresses like that, they would look a pillock. But because it's Charles Oliveira, he looks a billion dollars."

Bisping added: "Also Michael Chandler, I think people kind of like to hate on him because he's a little bit corny, a little bit cliched. I love him, I think he's an amazing guy, a fantastic human being. In the Octagon, there's no question this man delivers excitement every time, especially when it's Madison Square Garden.

"It's a really tough one to call. I don't know which way to lean. But it's crazy to me the disrespect Chandler gets. Maybe it's some Conor McGregor fanbase, I don't know about that. Maybe it's because they love Charles Oliveira or maybe it's just a bit of pantomime fun, he's the nice guy, he's a little corny, so let's boo him."