BIG EVENT: US president-elect Donald Trump and a slew of potential administration members including Elon Musk and Robert Kennedy Jr were among the audience
AP, NEW YORK
Jon Jones had just knocked the breath out of the heavyweight challenger he pummeled into retirement when UFC’s greatest fighter broke out a herky-jerky dance inside the cage and dedicated the groove to US president-elect Donald Trump.
As a defeated Stipe Miocic gamely tried to recover on all fours, Jones posed and played to the packed crowd on top of the cage and even had a gift for his favorite fan in the front row — Trump for a few moments clutched the UFC heavyweight title.
Jones and Trump shook hands and capped a fight night charged with politics as much as punches inside a raucous Madison Square Garden in New York where “USA” chants echoed through the arena.
Jon Jones punches Stipe Miocic in the UFC light heavyweight championship fight at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday.
Photo: AFP
“I’m proud to be a great American champion,” Jones said inside the cage.
Jones finished Miocic in the fight — and for good — with a stunning spinning back kick to the ribs and used a series of blows to the head in the third round to get the TKO win and retain the UFC heavyweight championship in front of Trump and a slew of potential administration members that helped fill the Garden.
Jones dominated at UFC’s fourth-highest grossing event of all time — topping US$16.6 million — with Elon Musk, picked by Trump to lead a new department of government efficiency, and Robert Kennedy Jr, Trump’s choice to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services in his incoming administration also in the house.
From left, US president-elect Donald Trump, singer Kid Rock and Elon Musk pose for a photo as they attend the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday.
Photo: AFP
“I want to say a big, big thank you to President Donald Trump for being here tonight,” Jones said to a roaring ovation that bled into a “USA” chant.
Hours earlier, Trump walked out to a rousing ovation in front of 20,200 fans just before the start of the pay-per-view card and seemed to bask in the thrill of the fighters who throughout the night gave him props — including Jones.
Widely considered the best fighter in the world, Jones (28-1-0; 1 NC) was the aggressor from the start and landed a series of shots to Miocic’s head in the first round. Jones bloodied Miocic under his right eye and showed he had plenty of fight left in the tank.
British heavyweight Tom Aspinall looms as the next challenger for Jones. Aspinall won a fight for the interim heavyweight title in November last year in the Garden. UFC CEO Dana White had promised Aspinall, who chatted with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, would challenge the winner of the main event in a unification bout.
“As far as my future in the octagon, I decided that maybe I will not retire,” Jones said. “I know that we have options.”
The 42-year-old Miocic (20-5) failed in his bid to win the heavyweight crown for a third time and the Ohio firefighter who fought for the first time since March 2021 immediately announced his retirement.
“I’m done,” Miocic said. “I’m hanging ’em up. I’m retiring. Thank God.”
