UFC 309 LIVE: Jon Jones fights Stipe Miocic in heavyweight title clash – latest updates and results
Follow live as Jones defends the heavyweight belt against divisional great Miocic, at Madison Square Garden
Jon Jones will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 tonight, a year after the fight was first scheduled.
Jones and Miocic were due to meet at Madison Square Garden last November, but a torn pectoral muscle forced “Bones” out of the fight – delaying his first title defence by 12 months. Now the former light-heavyweight champion, 37, and heavyweight great Miocic, 42, will meet at MSG at long last, though their fight has proven controversial.
When their bout fell through last year, Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich stepped up, with the Briton knocking out the Russian to become interim champion. Since then, Aspinall has even retained the interim belt – a rare occurrence in the UFC – leading many fans to see him as the true champion.
Jones, meanwhile, has not fought since winning the vacant heavyweight title in March 2023, and Miocic has not fought in almost four years. Furthermore, Miocic’s last fight ended in a vicious KO loss, and he and Jones have both hinted at retirement after tonight’s bout... potentially leaving Aspinall in the lurch.
Follow live updates and results from the main UFC 309 main card and prelims, below.
UFC 309 LIVE: Jonathan Martinez vs Marcus McGhee
Round three
A messy exchange ends with Martinez landing a left hook. Back comes McGhee with a low kick, then a combination of body shots, then another leg kick.
But it’s Martinez’s leg kicks that are doing greater damage!! McGhee is hobbling about now!
He’s even switched to orthodox. Martinez with a poor move, though, shooting for a clinch against the fence. What is he thinking??
Eventually the pair separate, and Martinez lands another debilitating leg kick. McGhee is all over the place. His balance is so off.
But Martinez wasted a whole minute grappling! Where was the fight IQ? Why was his corner not screaming at him to back off?
McGhee makes it to the bell, and he should get the decision.
He does: Marcus McGhee def. Jonathan Martinez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC 309 LIVE: Jonathan Martinez vs Marcus McGhee
Round two
McGhee is still a step ahead, but Martinez lands a winging left hand now.
McGhee with a lead uppercut into a cross, though. Nice. He then sets up a right hook with a southpaw one-two.
Tidy jabs from McGhee, but Martinez breaks up that stream of shots with a cross. Now a step-in elbow! Great work from Martinez.
He’s coming on stronger now. Ouch, harrrrsh low kick by him in the final seconds of the round.
UFC 309 LIVE: Jonathan Martinez vs Marcus McGhee
One more prelim! Jonathan Martinez faces Marcus McGhee at bantamweight, with some fans and fighters expecting the bout of the night here.
There’s a slight delay before this one starts, with ref Herb Dean taking issue with the length of Martinez’s toenails! How bizarre. “I’m not gonna clip those now,” says the official...
Round one
Both men are standing southpaw. McGhee tries two right hooks in a row. Now a left. He kicks low.
Martinez with very little output so far. He’s thrown six strikes in three minutes, landing just two.
Good jab from McGhee, then more leg kicks. Martinez with a decent jab and a heavy leg kick.
UFC 309 LIVE: Jonathan Martinez vs Marcus McGhee
One more prelim! Jonathan Martinez faces Marcus McGhee at bantamweight, with some fans and fighters expecting the bout of the night here.
UFC 309 LIVE: Jim Miller vs Damon Jackson
Nice reaction for Miller. And we’re under way.
Round one
Jackson with a pair of hooks early, right then left. Miller stands southpaw as he looks to find a way through. And he lands a sniping cross.
Jackson works on a single-leg takedown, driving Miller to the fence. Miller gets free, and as the pair trade hands, he cuts Jackson somewhere along the way.
Jackson with a front kick to the body; he’s thrown that a few times already. And again.
Oh, clean southpaw cross from Miller. Lovely shot. Jackson rolls under another punch, shooting for a double-leg takedown, but Miller reacts quickly with a guillotine attempt!
And he gets the tap! Clinical from the legend.
Jim Miller def. Damon Jackson via first-round submission (guillotine choke, 2:44)
UFC 309 LIVE: David Onama vs Roberto Romero
David Onama def. Roberto Romero via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
No doubts about that one. It was fun, though!
More lightweight action now: veteran Jim Miller faces Damon Jackson.
UFC 309 LIVE: David Onama vs Roberto Romero
Round two
Onama tags Romero again, and the latter is on unsteady legs once more. But still he presses forward...
Onama with a clubbing left hook, then a trio of BRUTAL punches. The sound on these shots, jeez.
And down goes Romero again! Onama flies into his guard, and Romero holds on, trying to slow down his opponent.
Another round in the books.
Round three
More good work from Onama. Clean straights and hooks, as Romero’s face grows bloodier. Now Onama talks some trash.
But against the run of play, he goes down! It’s just from a well-timed leg kick, however, and he pops back up.
Nice head kick from Roberto, though Onama is able to just about catch it to lessen the impact. He turns it into a takedown, too.
Roberto stands quickly, but he’s taken down again, and Onama is in mount, also tying up his opponent’s legs. Eventually Onama stands, so he can come back down with strikes.
It’s an emphatic end to the fight from Onama.
UFC 309 LIVE: David Onama vs Roberto Romero
Next up, David Onama faces Roberto Romero at lightweight.
Onama was due to face Lucas Almeida at featherweight, but the latter withdrew this week. In steps Romero, with the bout taking place at 155lb, not 145lb.
Round one
Lots of stance switches from Onama, but he’s being too passive early on, as Romero starts very fast!
Plenty of output from Romero, including a slew of low kicks. Good elbow from Onama in the clinch, though.
KNOCKDOWN! Romero drops Onama, before taking the back and trying a rear naked choke!
Onama is lucid enough to fight the hands well, keeping Romero’s arm over his chin – not his neck.
And Onama is able to shake off Romero, while standing up. The pair then grapple against the fence for a while, before separating.
Clean right hook from Romero! Onama felt that... OH!!! But Onama lands hard, and Romero is in a world of hurt!
Onama lands two more mean shots, as Romero’s legs wobble all over the place, and eventually Romero falls! He survives to the buzzer, though!
WHAT A ROUND.
UFC 309 LIVE: Marcin Tybura vs Jhonata Diniz
Round one
Tybura is tagged with a left hand while shooting for a takedown! He falls to his back, and Diniz moves into half-guard, where he rains down some elbows.
Tybura does well to sweep, and now he’s in Diniz’s half-guard, landing his own shots. Diniz can’t get out from under his opponent.
Tybura eventually moves to mount, where he ends the round in control.
Round two
Diniz presses forward and lands a cross, but Tybura responds with a hard left hand. One-two is there for Diniz.
Tybura with a takedown, then some good work from half-guard. Like in the first round, he moves to mount...
Late in the round, Tybura starts to land some vicious elbows! He slices open Diniz, who is in real trouble!
Diniz makes it to the bell, but how far will he make it through round three?
OH! He won’t even make it INTO round three! A doctor advises referee Herb Dean to stop the fight, to save Diniz – whose face is a mess. Good call.
Marcin Tybura def. Jhonata Diniz via second-round TKO (doctor stoppage, 5:00)
UFC 309 LIVE: Regular prelims
Onto the regular prelims! In reverse order, we’ve got:
Jonathan Martinez vs Marcus McGhee (bantamweight)
Jim Miller vs Damon Jackson (lightweight)
David Onama vs Roberto Romero (lightweight)
Marcin Tybura vs Jhonata Diniz (heavyweight)
A reminder that Chris Weidman vs Eryk Anders was cancelled on VERY short notice, due to Anders being ill.
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