It all goes down in one more sleep before the ‘GOAT’ tries to write a legacy ride-off at the expense of a former king. UFC 309’s main event sees Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic locking in for 25 minutes in New York City. “Bones” finally puts his heavyweight title to the test against Stipe Miocic. Ahead of that, the duo had one last look at each other.
UFC 309 ceremonial fighter weigh-ins took shape Friday, at MSG, which hosts Saturday’s event. Also in attendance were Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler, who meet in a highly anticipated rematch at 155 pounds. A cold and calm Jon Jones met and stared down Miocic and even shook his hand despite previously rejecting it.
Tomorrow is an awesome opportunity to display this gift that God has given me, …I’m super excited, I feel great. And still…
Jon Jones at UFC 309 fighter weigh-ins and final staredowns (H/T: SBNation Network)
Despite the criticism about this booking and the exclusion of interim UFC heavyweight champ, Jones vs. Miocic is one for ages. The duo were there to prove just that. There were some weird animosity between the two after all. Meanwhile, Stipe Miocic had his own resolve to make it about him.
It’s about time, …Finally, and new.
Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 fighter weigh-ins and final staredowns
Heavyweight title on the line in our #UFC309 main event!
🏆 @JonnyBones vs @StipeMiocic 🇺🇸
Watch tomorrow LIVE on TNT Sports Box Office ➡️ pic.twitter.com/yWUga8i4X1
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) November 15, 2024
The weigh-ins finally ended at The Theatre. The adjacent MSG will host Saturday’s stacked card. Those like Jones and “Iron” Chandler are meaning to keep their draw and charm at the MSG going. Meanwhile, Stipe Miocic and others are planning a reversal. All in all, it’s over for the pre-fight animosity and it’s the calm before the storm. However, Jones has other rivals peeping through.
Cryptic UFC 309 post from fighter who almost beat Jon Jones
Dominick Reyes recently took shots at Jon Jones ahead of this weekend’s UFC 309 event. The duo had been at it passively ever since Reyes took the cake at UFC on ESPN 57 on redemption comebacks. The former two-time light heavyweight title challenger faced Jones at UFC 247 and gave him quite the challenge. In MMA circles, the running consensus is he should have had his hand up.
Jon Jones has enemies crawling out the woodwork before UFC 309 (Source: X/IMAGO)Hence, no time like the present to make him remember GOAT theory has holes. ‘The Devastator’ also took a dig at Jones’ GOAT status and the UFC heavyweight champion’s apparent unwillingness to face Tom Aspinall. Ahead of Jones’ title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, it’s now free reign to take shots.
Reyes quipped if anyone knew what he did “with [goats]? Birria!“? After an allude to their February 2020 5-rounder, he did a follow-up post. One the lines of him ‘ducking’ Aspinall, he wrote he gets down “with some roasted [duck] a l’orange.” Check out the posts down below:
Dominick Reyes sending shots at Jon Jones via. IG 😳#UFC309 #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/MIuCak8WDB
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 14, 2024
Jones made weight earlier in the day and is edging that close to a potential legacy retirement. But heavyweight is the crown and the crown will always have its enemies, even if the fighter ignores them. Right now, more than anything, his reluctance about unification has been a running point going against him. It remains to be seen if that will persist with his hand raised.
