Jon Jones despatched Stipe Miocic into retirement with a surprising again kick to the ribs and used a sequence of blows to the pinnacle within the third spherical to retain the UFC heavyweight championship in entrance of US president-elect Donald Trump in the primary occasion of UFC 309 at Madison Sq. Backyard on Saturday evening.
Jones posed and performed to the group on prime of the octagon in entrance of Trump, Elon Musk, picked by Trump to guide a brand new Division of Authorities Effectivity, and Robert Kennedy Jr, Trump’s selection to guide the Division of Well being and Human Providers in his incoming administration.
Trump walked out to a rousing ovation in entrance of 20,200 followers simply earlier than the beginning of the pay-per-view card and appeared to indulge in thrill of the fighters that all through the evening gave him props — together with Jones.
“I wish to give a giant, massive thanks to President Donald Trump being right here tonight,” Jones stated to a roaring ovation that bled right into a “USA! USA!” chant.
“I’m proud to be an awesome American champion,” Jones stated.
Broadly thought of one of the best fighter on the planet, Jones (28-1-0; 1 NC) was the aggressor from the beginning and landed a sequence of photographs to Miocic’s head within the first spherical. Jones confirmed he he loads of struggle left within the tank.
British heavyweight Tom Aspinall looms as the following challenger for Jones. Aspinall received a struggle for the interim heavyweight title final November within the Backyard. UFC CEO Dana White had promised Aspinall, who chatted with Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, would problem the winner of the primary occasion in a unification bout.
“So far as my future within the octagon, I made a decision that perhaps I cannot retire,” Jones stated. “I do know that we’ve choices.
Miocic (20-5) failed in his bid to win the heavyweight crown for a 3rd time and instantly introduced his retirement.
“I’m completed,” Miocic stated. “I’m hanging ’em up.”
His final struggle was in entrance of the following president.
White captioned a photograph he posted on social media “the boys” that featured him with Trump, Child Rock and Musk. Trump pumped a fist throughout an occasional outbreak of “USA! USA!” chants. He was flanked on his front-row seat by White on his proper and Musk on his left and politely applauded the struggle winners.
UFC followers wore pink Trump hats and a few waved flags emblazoned together with his picture throughout breaks within the motion.
In a light-weight bout that made each fan from Child Rock to Jordan Knight to Anthony Kiedis go wild on the end within the fifth spherical, Charles Oliveira beat Michael Chandler through unanimous choice. The struggle was a rematch of their Might 2021 struggle when Charles Oliveira topped Chandler to win the light-weight title. Oliveira staked his declare to a different title struggle with the win
The fifth spherical was about nearly as good because it will get contained in the octagon highlighted by Chandler dropping Oliveira twice on his again. The 38-year-old Chandler stepped contained in the cage for the primary time in two years, largely as a result of he waited for a struggle that by no means materialized with Conor McGregor.
“We’ve been questioning the place you’ve been, Conor,” Chandler bellowed within the cage. “Come again and beat me for those who can.”
McGregor has been sued by a girl who accused him of sexually assaulting her in a Dublin lodge in 2018.
Chandler shook Trump’s hand after the struggle on a card extra charged with politics than punches.
Trump is tight with White, a relationship that dates to UFC’s childhood earlier than its rise right into a billion-dollar promotion. New Jersey was one of many first states that embraced UFC and White has lengthy credited fights on the Trump Taj Mahal for serving to the corporate develop right into a heavyweight within the sports activities world. White each spoke at Trump’s request on the Republican Nationwide Conference and appeared on stage on the election get together.
UFC fighters spoke this week in New York with pleasure about incomes the possibility to struggle in entrance of Trump.
“To see Dana up on stage on the election, I really feel like that second simply elevated the entire sport,” Jones stated. “Individuals, individuals from all over the world had been like, who’s the bald-headed dude speaking? That represents all of us.”
Bo Nickal topped Paul Craig by unanimous choice in a welterweight struggle, then crouched to talk to Trump. Nickal later stated he needed to golf with Trump
Trump threw his arms open when he noticed UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan. Trump and Rogan embraced and shared a couple of phrases earlier than the opening bout of the primary card.
Trump sat forward of the election for a three-hour interview on Rogan’s podcast. Rogan helped encourage on the podcast a few of Trump’s false claims about voting, election fraud and his loss within the 2020 presidential election.
Rogan endorsed Trump for president.
Donald Jr. and Eric Trump, and Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., additionally attended.
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