Jon Jones Knocks Out Stipe Miocic to Retain UFC Title, Sending Him into Retirement

Agency Report

NEW YORK—Jon Jones retained the UFC heavyweight championship in a thrilling fashion Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, sending Stipe Miocic into retirement with a powerful back kick to the ribs, followed by a series of strikes to the head. The knockout, which occurred in the third round, came before a crowd of 20,200 fans, including President-elect Donald Trump, entrepreneur Elon Musk, and political figure Robert Kennedy Jr.

After the victory, Jones celebrated by climbing atop the octagon, drawing a roaring ovation from the New York crowd. “I want to give a big, big thank you to President Donald Trump [for] being here tonight,” Jones announced to a crowd that quickly broke into chants of “USA! USA!”

Trump, known in the MMA community as the “Combatant in Chief,” received a warm reception when he entered the arena just before the main event. UFC President Dana White, a close friend of Trump, joined the audience in cheering as the former president acknowledged the crowd with a wave. Later, Jones also expressed his pride, saying, “I’m proud to be a great American champion.”

Jones’s victory was his first title defense since March 2023. He had been sidelined by pectoral surgery, which postponed a planned fight against Miocic at UFC 295. With his win, Jones, at 37, proved he was still at the top of his game, showcasing his striking prowess and defense.

While Miocic opted to retire after the fight, Jones plans to stick around at heavyweight. “I’ve decided maybe I will not retire,” Jones said, signaling his intent to continue dominating the division.

After the fight, Jones showed respect to his opponent. “He’s really, really good,” Jones said of Miocic. “He’s really tough. He’s really durable. I hit him with some pretty decent shots, and he just kept coming forward.”

Trump, who remained ringside for the fight, was visibly enthusiastic, dancing to his campaign anthem “YMCA” before the match and later engaging in animated conversation with Musk. His appearance highlighted the growing ties between politics and MMA, with many fighters and fans viewing Trump as a staunch supporter of the sport.