Jon Jones is still on track for retirement after his long-awaited UFC 309 title fight against Stipe Miocic. This has now been confirmed (again) as the November 16 Pay-per-view headliner, 2024 at Madison Square Garden. This throws a wrench to UFC CEO Dana White’s blatant claims that the UFC Top pound-for-pound will absolutely fight anyone.
Jones (27-1-1 MMA, 22-1-1 UFC) returns to the Octagon for the first time since winning the vacant heavyweight title. Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic was set to happen back in November 2023 at UFC 295. However, a torn pectoral removed him from the game, forcing an interim title bout. Now, he’ll more than likely leave that unresolved.
This is gonna be the last time — the last time, …More than likely…I feel great, yeah, …I feel really, really good — 250 pounds lean and strong.
Jon Jones to Clocked N’ Loaded (@ClockedNload) during Noche UFC 306 Pay-per-view
Regardless of the result against Jones, the UFC CEO recently stated that he believes Miocic will retire at UFC 309. However, Dana White believes Jones will fight on, giving interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall a belt unification opportunity. The UFC boss opened up to unification talk moreover after Aspinall’s win at the Manchester UFC 304 PPV.
The Brit heavyweight was a saving grace for the substitute championship strap when ‘Bones’ was out on injury last year. Ever since, the British champion has yearned for unification chances. Recently, he even switched gears to baits and hooks, calling himself the “real” heavyweight champ instead of PED-riddled champ Jones.
Aspinall may still be high and dry, though, because Jon Jones is sticking to his shtick of not fighting beyond Stipe Miocic. One more super fight doesn’t make it to the octagon unless Jones changes his mind. Nevertheless, the matter has gone viral.
Fight fans react to Jon Jones doubling down on retirement
Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic could be the first double retirement title scrap in UFC competition. SBNation Network heard a buzz during the UFC 306 PPV about Jones telling close friends about his “last” fight. The heavyweight champion soon confirmed the suspicions himself on camera.
Fans react to Jon Jones’ veering from Dana White’s claims (Source: agfight.com)Even before, Jones stated he’d retire after a legacy payout if he could get past Miocic. On the other hand, Miocic has been out of action since a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 in March 2021. ‘Bones’ competed just once since February 2020.
UFC brass even dropped a legacy montage promo during the Contender Series 70 (DWCS) event broadcast, billing Jones as the best. A UFC 309 legacy fight would not hit so hard if not for Jones’ continuous snub of Aspinall. With brass promoting him as the absolute No. 1 pound-for-pound G.O.A.T on a floppy, decadent bare minimum, here’s what fans think.
Clearly dodged Aspinall. We all knew how that would go anyway
— TooFastTooFurious (@NoCrust) September 16, 2024
Let it be remembered that Jon failed PED tests & then underperformed in his fight vs no knees Santos & he arguably lost to Reyes. He then took a few years to put on weight to fight at HW & beat the stylistically easiest HW then when a real HW threat challenged him he retired…
— The Combat Sports Matrixer (@TheCSMatrixer) September 16, 2024
Still not convinced this will truly be his last fight. Kind of hope it is though, HW needs to move on and Tom Aspinall needs his opportunity at undisputed. #jonjones
— BarnhillBrothersMMA (@BarnhillThe) September 16, 2024
Not surprising. Take an easy fight against a washed fighter and ride off on his debatable GOAT float.
I would expect nothing less from Jonathan.
— Lorenzo Maldonado (@TheRealLoDown) September 16, 2024
@danawhite I thought you said you can say for certainty he’d take the challenge of fighting his IC who everyone sees as the actual champ anyways?
— Los (@HushBulla) September 16, 2024
Per statleaders.ufc.com (UFC Record Book), Aspianll boasts the shortest average fight time, shortest bottom percentile, and second-highest knockdown average. A new breed of heavyweights, fans have clamored for an indomitable challenge against Jones. However, Jones has maintained his G.O.A.T. float of being able to defeat Aspinall without actually trying.
During a DWCS Press conference, White guaranteed that ‘Bones’ would face any challenge ahead. Fans are less than happy with him walking away from the sport after a meager maiden defense. A prominent reaction (@acdmma_) even wrote: “His legacy is GOATed BUT the clear ducking of Tom Aspinall is yet another stain and will follow him forever“. It’s not the only such sentiment.
