Stipe Miocic and Jon Jones square off
Croatian-American Stipe Miočić returned to the octagon after a three-and-a-half-year hiatus on Saturday night, facing Jon Jones, the most celebrated fighter in UFC history at Madison Square Garden.
The bout ended in a third-round technical knockout in favor of Jones and following the fight, Miocic, at 42 years old, announced his retirement, concluding an illustrious career.
The Fight Recap
The fight began with both fighters exchanging probing strikes and low kicks, as they tested each other’s defenses.
Miocic attempted to take the initiative, but Jones showed his class, effortlessly evading Miocic’s early attacks. A critical moment came when Jones caught Miocic’s strike and brought the fight to the ground.
From there, Jones utilised his signature ground-and-pound technique, landing sharp 12-6 elbows that forced Miocic into a defensive posture.
Despite the relentless attack, Miocic managed to survive the first round, showcasing the resilience that had defined his career. The second round saw a more controlled Jones, but Miocic struggled to find significant opportunities to counter.
In the third round, Miočić showed flashes of his old form, landing a solid hook and pressing forward. However, the momentum quickly shifted back to Jones, who landed a spinning kick to Miocic’s body, followed by a barrage of strikes on the ground. Unable to defend himself, the referee stopped the fight, sealing the victory for Jones.
After the fight, Miocic addressed the crowd in a post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, confirming his retirement. This marked the end of a legendary career that saw him become a two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion and set multiple records:
Most Wins in Heavyweight Title Fights: Miocic secured four title defenses during his reigns – against Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos, Francis Ngannou and Daniel Cormier.
Stipe Miocic
Longest Title Defense Streak in Heavyweight History: He defended the belt three consecutive times.
Stipe Miocic leaves behind a legacy as not only the most accomplished heavyweight in UFC history but also as a beloved figure in the sport.
He has always been proud of his Croatian roots throughout his career, fighting in Croatian-inspired shorts a number of times.
Stipe Miocic (photo credit: Instagram)
Miocic’s late father was from Rtina near Zadar on the Dalmatian coast and his mother is from Cetingrad near Karlovac.
“I love Croatia, the best country in the world,”he said this week in the build up to the fight.
Congratulations on an amazing career.
