Jon Jones sends Stipe Miocic into retirement in front of Trump

Jon Jones sent Stipe Miocic into status pinch a stunning backmost footwear to nan ribs and utilized a bid of blows to nan caput successful nan 3rd information to clasp nan UFC heavyweight championship successful beforehand of United States President-elect Donald Trump successful nan main arena of UFC 309 astatine Madison Square Garden.

Jones posed and played to nan crowd connected apical of nan octagon connected Saturday nighttime successful beforehand of Trump, Elon Musk and Robert Kennedy Jr.

Trump walked retired to a rousing ovation successful beforehand of 20,200 fans conscionable earlier nan commencement of nan pay-per-view paper and seemed to bask successful nan thrill of nan fighters that passim nan nighttime gave him props, including Jones.

Known by immoderate successful nan mixed martial arts world arsenic nan “Combatant successful Chief”, Trump counts UFC President Dana White arsenic a adjacent friend and considers fans of nan athletics portion of his governmental base.

“I want to springiness a big, large convey you to President Donald Trump [for] being present tonight,” Jones said to a roaring ovation that bled into a “USA! USA!” chant.

“I’m proud to beryllium a awesome American champion,” Jones said.

Trump did immoderate creation moves arsenic his signature run song, YMCA, played complete nan loudspeaker. He yet sat down and talked animatedly to Musk.

Jones’s heavyweight title defence was his first conflict since March 2023, and nan 37-year-old successfully returned to nan octagon aft undergoing pectoral room that postponed a gathering pinch Miocic astatine UFC 295.

Jones paid his respects to Miocic aft nan fight, admiring his toughness.

“He’s really, really good,” Jones said of Miocic. “He’s really tough. He’s really durable. I deed him pinch immoderate beautiful decent shots, and he conscionable kept coming forward.”

While Miocic opted to discontinue aft nan fight, Jones plans to instrumentality astir astatine heavyweight.

“I’ve decided possibly I will not retire,” Jones said.