Jon Jones brutally knocked out Stipe Miocic within three rounds in a fight two years in the making on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
The massive UFC 309 headliner had the massive 6’5 shadow of Tom Aspinall looming over it throughout fight week. But before either man could focus on the interim champion and his relentless pursuit of a unification, they had to worry about one another.
Jones has long been considered the greatest UFC fighter of all time, certainly if you ask his promoter Dana White. But he challenged himself with arguably the best heavyweight ever in his first defence of the belt he won in March of last year.
Jon Jones knocks out Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden
Despite his spot as a beloved two-time champion, Stipe Miocic was met with a smattering of boos by the loud Madison Square Garden crowd. They were clearly more supportive of New York state native Jon Jones, who was making his debut at the world’s most famous arena.
Jones cartwheeled his way into the octagon after the fact, and with anticipation for the clash reaching a fever pitch, Bruce Buffer’s lengthy introductions seemed to take an eternity. Eventually they did engage, with Miocic pushing the pace early.
However, Jones quickly landed a tkedown, and began to rain down elbows from top position. Miocic defended well, particularly given his age and lack of competition, but the champion was able to pressure and land his big shots.
Miocic survived the first, and had some degree of success on his feet in a more tentative second round from both men. Jones was put under more pressure than expected in that second stanza, and did not win it as clearly as the first in a fully stand-up five minutes.
The third started with Miocic searching for the big knockout shot that wouldn’t quite arrive. And eventually Jones did find his range, cutting his rival open and landing a right hook that caught his attention in a big way.
And Jones found the finish with a spinning back kick to the body that put Miocic down, leading to a flurry of punches and the fight being stopped.
Jon Jones has been accused of ‘ducking’ interim challenger Tom Aspinall
For months as he prepared to face Miocic, legendary two-weight world champion Jones has been accused of avoiding the challenge of Brit Aspinall. When he was forced out of the initially planned bout at Madison Square Garden last year, the Manchester native stepped in and won interim gold.
The gigantic contender knocked out divisional boogeyman Sergei Pavlovich in a short-notice bout for the interim belt. He has since even defended his gold at UFC 304 against Curtis Blaydes, banishing the demons of their previous meeting.
But Jones has regularly insisted that he will never face the 31-year-old, who received a rapturous reception from the New York faithful when he appeared on screen before the main event. And it remains to be seen what the champion’s plans are going forward.
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