UFC 309 Report: Will Jon Jones struggle Tom Aspinall? Plus, a farewell to Stipe Miocic

UFC 309 is within the books, and Jon Jones lastly obtained his win over Stipe Miocic.

This previous Saturday at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis, Jones stopped Miocic in a bout almost two years within the making, retaining his heavyweight title. Within the aftermath, Miocic retired from the game whereas Jones left his future up within the air.

So with a lot to speak about plus extra, let’s collect the MMA Preventing mind belief to debate the whole lot that occurred at UFC 309.

1. What’s your blurb evaluate of UFC 309?

Heck: Underwhelming, however nonetheless gave us quite a bit to speak about on the identical time. Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic was precisely what I anticipated it to be — perhaps even worse than I drew it up in my thoughts — whereas the co-main occasion was one-way site visitors via the primary 20-plus minutes till wild man Michael Chandler almost pulled off one of the crucial insane comebacks ever.

There’s additionally a number of questions on Bo Nickal transferring ahead, and Mauricio Ruffy is enjoyable as hell. Enjoyable moments, actually, however I’m glad this weekend of fights is formally behind us.

Lee: A card that regarded meh on paper, turned out meh in observe. The principle occasion conflict of legends turned out to be method, method, well past its greatest earlier than date, Bo Nickal fell flat regardless of remaining undefeated, and it felt like nothing of consequence occurred.

However hey, Oliveira vs. Chandler 2 was fairly enjoyable!

Meshew: To paraphrase Dennis Inexperienced, it was what we thought it was!

Everybody apart from essentially the most gullible of rubes knew that Jones vs. Miocic was a conceit mission with minimal probability of being aggressive and that’s precisely what we obtained. Stipe regarded higher than Mike Tyson, however nonetheless fairly outdated, and so regardless that Jones himself regarded a bit previous his prime, it was a woeful mismatch. At the least it’s over now, and we will transfer on to truly significant bouts.

Martin: Arguably one of the crucial lackluster pay-per-views of the yr.

It wasn’t precisely a stacked card as a result of anytime you’ve obtained a confirmed draw like Jon Jones on the prime, the place he’s additionally incomes a hefty payday, the UFC doesn’t usually load the undercard with the largest names. However even by these requirements, the fights at UFC 309 didn’t ship. That’s additionally contemplating the Struggle of the Evening between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler didn’t actually get loopy till the ultimate 5 minutes. The principle occasion performed out as many suspected it might, with Jones being the GOAT, and Miocic trying each bit like he’s 42 years outdated and getting back from a three-plus yr lengthy layoff.

2. Preserve it quick: Is Jon Jones going to struggle Tom Aspinall?

Heck: Nope. And guess what? That’s OK.

Sadly for Jon Jones, he was about 35 media appearances too late about his trustworthy view of the state of affairs. Jon is prize preventing, and has each proper to take action. He plans to offer the UFC his monetary “demand” to face Tom Aspinall, and it’s in all probability the largest singular pay day in UFC historical past. My guess is it should take within the $35-40 million (could possibly be extra) vary for Jon to face Aspinall, and to be clear, I don’t blame him one bit for the ask. He’s earned it.

The issue is, the UFC gained’t pay that, they usually completely, positively don’t must. These three letters are the cash makers, and no singular fighter will ever once more be greater than them.

Ultimately, all people will get some semblance of what they need: Jones can struggle Alex Pereira in a large struggle that can value the UFC much less to make, however has large monetary upside, and Aspinall will be the heavyweight champion of the world to maintain this division transferring ahead. Jones vs. Pereira can occur, however Jones might want to vacate — and he has mentioned he would. And to be as honest as we will be, if Pereira is to just accept that struggle, he ought to vacate his belt as effectively.

Martin: No*

However why is there an asterisk there you ask? As a result of Jones is sort of actually setting this as much as let the UFC take the autumn for the struggle not taking place. By continuously downplaying his curiosity in dealing with Aspinall until the UFC pays him “f*ck you cash” — as he put it so eloquently quoting the nice Bobby Axelrod — the duty now falls on the promotion to make it occur. If the UFC doesn’t again up the Brinks truck, Jones can simply say he would have fought Aspinall, however Dana White simply wouldn’t pay him what he’s value.

*And to a sure extent, he’s in all probability proper.

So identical to the final time round with the Francis Ngannou struggle, the general public discourse will flip into the blame sport with Jones ultimately driving off into the sundown and Aspinall in all probability dealing with Ciryl Gane someday in 2025.

Lee: Sure.

I’m gearing up in full Prince of Positivity mode right here, as a result of I’ve been considerably much less optimistic about just about the whole lot Jones has carried out for the previous 18 months. I’ve to imagine that there’s a motive for why this sequence of occasions has performed out the way in which it has. For as soon as, let there be order.

Even when Jones will get his want and fights and defeats Alex Pereira first (Magomed Ankalaev getting neglected in all of this), I can’t see him going out on that win. The excessive of that victory would carry him to 1 extra matchup, yet one more coaching camp, yet one more struggle evening. And who else might or not it’s apart from Aspinall?

I genuinely imagine a number of the different random names Jones has thrown on the market (Derrick Lewis???) are both Jones trolling or simply being his standard awkward self, take your choose. He’s inadvertently constructed the Aspinall struggle as much as epic proportions and when the time comes, Jones and the UFC will discover the precise quantity to make this must-have heavyweight struggle occur.

Meshew: Nope.

I perceive there are lots of people on the market who need to imagine that is all a protracted con from Jones to get extra money and construct up the struggle greater, and I suppose that might be true, however there’s a easier reply: Jones is telling us the reality, and he’s not going to struggle Aspinall.

Bear in mind, this isn’t a brand new state of affairs. Again in 2020, Dana White mentioned Jones was completely going to rematch Dominick Reyes. As an alternative Jones vacated his gentle heavyweight title after which spent three years negotiating for an enormous sum of cash to struggle Francis Ngannou. The UFC by no means paid them and that struggle by no means occurred. Similar story, completely different yr.

3. What was the most effective a part of UFC 309?

Meshew: I can’t imagine I’m going to say this however Michael Chandler’s goofy self.

Within the co-main occasion, Charles Oliveira beat the bejesus out of Chandler for 20 minutes in a one-sided, and admittedly boring, matchup. However then within the closing spherical Chandler realized he had but to faucet into his biggest weapon: dishonest.

After touchdown some good punches Chandler and Oliveira wound up on the ground towards the fence, and Chandler openly defied the principles of MMA and basic decency, firing roughly 27 punches/elbows straight into the again of Oliveira’s head. These brazenly unlawful strikes had “Do Bronx” in a world of hassle, and Keith Peterson simply watching the entire thing with out a lot as a peep nearly led to an astonishing comeback.

However in fact that wasn’t to be as a result of Chandler is a foolish goose, after which stayed in Oliveira’s guard, permitting his opponent to get better and ending his final probability at beating “Chucky Olives.”

Then, regardless of dropping a one-sided determination, Chandler additionally obtained a post-fight interview the place he principally acted as if he didn’t lose and re-ignited his feud with Conor McGregor. The entire thing was deeply amusing and led to by far the most effective moments of our Watch Celebration.

Heck: Stipe Miocic’s sigh of reduction.

Miocic left the cage on his personal energy after getting run over by Jon Jones, which is all the time good. He made one final massive bag of cash, obtained to headline towards the best fighter ever at Madison Sq. Backyard, after which he mentioned the 2 phrases right into a reside microphone he’s been dying to say for the final almost 4 years.

“I’m carried out.”

Miocic is a first-ballot Corridor of Famer, and the best UFC heavyweight in historical past. His first title run was so rattling spectacular, and we will now concentrate on these unbelievable accomplishments. Extra importantly, Miocic can concentrate on the issues he loves most: His household, and being a firefighter. Tip of the cap to a legend.

Lee: Jim Miller and Damon Jackson was good reserving and precisely how the UFC must take care of Miller going ahead. A end was all however assured as soon as pen was put to paper and we noticed classic “A-10” as he jumped the gilly to safe his thirteenth submission contained in the octagon. Shout-out to Jackson, who left his gloves within the cage presumably calling an finish to an excellent profession, however the post-fight was all about Miller.

I confess I’m not absolutely updated on this complete “Peanut” factor, however watching Miller use the post-fight time of his forty fifth UFC look to deal with the controversy was objectively humorous. Apparently, it was no laughing matter to Miller although as he was lifeless severe discussing it with the media later.

Martin: Name me tacky, however any time Jon Jones fights, it feels particular and realistically, we’re in all probability right down to the ultimate couple of appearances in his legendary profession.

Prefer it or not, Jones actually is the best of all-time and regardless of how mad you may get at him for preventing Stipe Miocic over Tom Aspinall, there’s nonetheless a sure aura that surrounds the sector when he’s competing. From his stroll to the cage surrounded by the thunderous drums from “The Champ is Right here” by Jadakiss to his well-known crawl via the cage door to the cartwheel that truly will get him to his nook, the depth and pleasure all the time will get ratcheted up for a Jones struggle. Certain, Miocic regarded like he was preventing in quicksand however Jones nonetheless methodically dismantled him and the spinning again kick to the physique to complete the struggle was fairly rattling cool. Reality be instructed, there wasn’t a lot to put in writing residence about at UFC 309 however at the very least Jones capped it off in fashion.

4. What was the worst a part of UFC 309?

Martin: Bo Nickal calling his efficiency superb in all probability sits on the prime of the listing.

Now make no mistake, Nickal is working beneath unrealistic expectations with solely seven skilled fights on his resume, however he’s additionally invited the ridiculous quantity of hype that’s adopted him since signing with the UFC as a three-time NCAA champion wrestler. Let’s additionally not overlook, Nickal obtained his contract with a 3-0 document and two of these wins approaching Dana White’s Contender Sequence.

At UFC 309, Nickal determined to showcase his hanging, however after watching him spend quarter-hour within the cage with a mid-level middleweight like Paul Craig, it’s secure to say he’s obtained some work to do.

Following the win, Nickal was successfully patting himself on the again for his efficiency and maybe that’s simply his method of trolling us after he was down proper depressed after he dispatched Cody Brundage in rather more spectacular trend at UFC 300. However he appeared extra happy together with his newest win than just about some other he’s had within the UFC. In actuality, nevertheless, Nickal confirmed that whereas he stays a prime prospect, he’s nonetheless a great distance from being a severe contender.

Heck: Keith “The entire Rattling Nonsense” Peterson.

Michael Chandler almost delivered one of many craziest comebacks in UFC historical past within the fifth spherical towards Charles Oliveira in a struggle that was not aggressive for over 20 minutes. “Iron” misplaced, and misplaced badly, however nonetheless got here out trying rosy when it was all mentioned and carried out — however he additionally cheated his ass off your entire struggle. And let’s be clear, Chandler is to not blame as a result of if the referee goes to permit it, it’s honest sport, and oh boy, did Keith Peterson enable it.

A number of fence grabs and glove grabs all through, and within the near-miracle end sequence in Spherical 5, Chandler hit Oliveira behind the top over and over, whereas Peterson stared straight at it and did NOTHING.

Each fighter ought to search for that further edge, as a result of only a few referees at the present time need to put themselves able to influence a struggle by — and I do know that is loopy — imposing the freaking guidelines. Peterson was completely terrible on Saturday, and as unacceptable correctly, it’s now only a regular factor that occurs. Fighters, all the time cheat, since you gained’t be penalized.

Lee: I’m by no means going to recover from how pointless this major occasion was. Jones preventing Miocic as an alternative of Aspinall is, like, 50 instances worse than Aljamain Sterling preventing T.J. Dillashaw as an alternative of Jose Aldo. And that was completely horrible.

This was a compelling matchup when Jones was recent off his win over Gane, however when it fell via the primary time, everybody ought to have agreed to maneuver on particularly with how Aspinall has established himself. As an alternative, we’ve needed to drag on this story of two legends lastly assembly within the octagon, figuring out that by the point UFC 309 truly arrived the consequence would haven’t any substantial influence on their legacies. Watching it truly play out simply made me really feel dangerous inside.

Congrats Jones, you bought one other notable title so as to add to your Wikipedia web page.

Meshew: The return of “good man Jon Jones.”

Firstly of his profession, Jones was fairly clearly making an attempt to observe the Georges St-Pierre playbook of being an aesthetic, respectful, skilled fighter who might usher in a brand new period of brand name offers and mainstream acceptance. The one drawback is Jones isn’t that man and all of it fell aside fairly rapidly as his outdoors the cage controversies started to mount and clips like “I might actually kill you” began to come back out. And to Jones’s credit score, there was a interval the place he embraced it. He was joyful to be his true self and revel within the heel flip. However that wasn’t the case this week.

This previous week Jones went all in on a model of himself that, frankly, appears extremely hole. All struggle week he vacillated between being respectful to Stipe Miocic and Tom Aspinall one minute after which trashing them the following.

The coup de grace for me was the post-fight press convention the place after saying he would solely struggle Tom Aspinall for “life altering cash” Jones then quibbled about calling it a requirement, earlier than later launching into an impromptu political marketing campaign advert. “Thanks Stipe Miocic. Thanks for being a primary responder. I completely love you. I like our legislation enforcement, I like being an American, I like our navy, I like our firefighters. I like our nurses and our docs.”

That’s not an actual human being speaking, and it’s actually not Jones speaking. We all know what Jones seems like. That’s him placing on a efficiency, and I actually thought we have been previous all that with him.

5. Who was the unsung hero of UFC 309?

Lee: David Onama and Roberto Romero ought to share this one.

Up till this week, it regarded like Onama wouldn’t even be on the cardboard after dropping opponent Lucas Almeida. Nonetheless, Romero bravely stepped up on lower than per week’s discover, the bout was shifted up from featherweight to light-weight, and identical to that we had one other scrap on our palms.

The primary spherical was a back-and-forth thriller, and whereas Onama ultimately asserted himself and took a convincing determination, Romero deserves a ton of credit score for placing a scare into the seven-fight UFC veteran with so little time to organize. Come January, most followers in all probability gained’t bear in mind this struggle all that a lot, nevertheless it’s a reminder that guys like Onama and Romero serve to brighten up a UFC calendar that’s too often marked by mediocrity today.

Martin: It’s nearly not possible to seek out anyone who’s universally beloved in fight sports activities, however Jim Miller fills that function fairly effectively.

He’s by no means been a champion and he solely obtained near title competition a couple of times throughout his UFC profession however his blue-collar roots and workman like angle have carried him a great distance on this sport. Miller holds a ton of data and as he talked about on Saturday evening, even with 45 fights on his UFC resume, he’s not often seen the scorecards in comparison with lots of his friends with considerably comparable expertise. He doesn’t get into hassle. He doesn’t say remarkably silly or controversial issues. He simply goes out, fights and often wins.

At UFC 309, Miller completed Damon Jackson with a nasty guillotine choke that had Dustin Poirier dropping his thoughts. As unhappy as Jackson was to lose, after which name it a profession afterwards, deep down, even he’s in all probability joyful for Miller on some stage! That’s simply the way in which it goes for Miller, and the game goes to be much less fascinating as soon as he’s not round any longer.

Meshew: Charles Oliveira.

Except for wailing on Michael Chandler like he owed him cash (all the time a great way to get in my good graces) Oliveira additionally did one thing nobody else has ever carried out earlier than: by profitable Struggle of the Evening, Oliveira now has 20 post-fight bonuses in UFC historical past. It’s essentially the most all time and, if you happen to do some fast math, it additionally makes Oliveira the primary fighter to earn $1 million simply from bonuses. It’s a cool little document, and I needed to shout him out.

Heck: Oban Elliott did the rattling factor, and boy, was it wanted in that struggle.

“The Welsh Gangster” improved to 3-0 this yr — all on numbered pay-per-view playing cards. The struggle with Bassil Hafez via two rounds was, let’s be trustworthy, a troublesome watch. Elliott noticed a gap in Spherical 3 and bulldozed via it, knocking out Hafez and getting an additional $50,000 for his troubles (he in all probability ought to’ve gotten at the very least two bonuses since he truly knocked out Hafez a number of instances in a single sequence).

Elliott then styled and profiled like Ric Aptitude and did large work on the microphone. The 26-year-old goes to be a really fascinating fighter to look at heading into 2025.

6. How are we going to recollect this occasion?

Heck: So many apparent solutions, however I’m going a wee-bit off the board in definition: This would be the begin of crucial chapter in Bo Nickal’s UFC profession. Both the phenom learns, grows, and is humbled by his efficiency on Saturday, or he’s heading to a fairly powerful place.

Is crucial factor a win? Actually. However Nickal’s outing towards Paul Craig led to the primary “overrated” chant from a UFC crowd I can bear in mind ever listening to. It’s a struggle that no one willingly watches once more. Sure, he’s undefeated, however the brakes have been pumped with a number of the takes and predictions individuals have had with Nickal. His post-fight reactions have been powerful to take heed to, actually, and his Q ranking took a nostril dive.

Fortunately, that is MMA, and in a sport the place Joaquin Buckley can go from being one of many top-three most disliked fighters within the promotion earlier within the yr, to turning it throughout on one evening in Salt Lake Metropolis, Nickal can do it too. However he wants to alter issues up. If he desires to maintain taking part in the boastful heel, high-quality, however the man must struggle extra. He must struggle at the very least 3 times in 2025. The slow-rolling must cease. The opponents don’t even matter. Nickal must be on the market within the octagon preventing as usually as potential. If he doesn’t, the burden on the Nickal hype prepare goes to reduce increasingly.

Lee: Do we now have to?

What I imply to say is, are we going to seek out ourselves having to look again at UFC 309 and provides it any explicit significance? It’s a card that, at our most cynical, we have been trying ahead to solely so we might transfer on from it. As I all the time say, MMA is meant to be enjoyable, and apart from pitting Oliveira and Chandler towards each other once more like two piranhas in an undersized fish tank, this lineup didn’t assure leisure.

As with most UFC playing cards, there have been sufficient moments to remind followers why that is the largest preventing model on this planet, however for essentially the most half we have been left with extra questions than solutions. What is going to Jones do now? Is Bo Nickal overrated (or “Bo-verrated,” if you happen to’re so inclined)? Did Karine Silva sink her possibilities of changing into a contender? And severely, how for much longer can Jim Miller preserve this up?

My guess: When followers talk about UFC 309 sooner or later, it is going to be remembered for President Elect Donald Trump’s grandiose victory march into Madison Sq. Backyard, not for something that occurred within the cage.

Martin: That father time actually is undefeated.

Whereas most of UFC 309 is fairly forgettable, the occasion stands eternally as the ultimate look of Stipe Miocic, who’s undoubtedly one of many biggest heavyweights within the historical past of the game. He was a two-time UFC champion with a outstanding document after taking out fighters like Francis Ngannou, Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum and Daniel Cormier (twice).

Sadly, almost 4 years off and turning 42 simply caught up with Miocic on Saturday evening. Whereas no one was anticipating a classic efficiency, Miocic sadly form of justified why all people was shouting for Jones to face Aspinall as an alternative as a result of Cleveland’s favourite firefighter simply regarded like he misplaced a step or two — and that’s to be anticipated at his age! It’s so uncommon that anybody goes out on prime on this sport and now Miocic is the newest instance of anyone who in all probability caught round for one struggle too many. Right here’s hoping his retirement struggle at the very least added a few zeroes to his checking account somewhat than simply being handed an inexpensive gold watch.

Meshew: As the ultimate struggle of Jon Jones.

As talked about above, I imagine Jones laid out his phrases for persevering with to compete and I don’t imagine the UFC will meet his “requests” (since Jones doesn’t just like the time period calls for). So meaning Jones is unlikely to ever compete once more. And albeit I don’t begrudge him that.

Whereas I closely dislike the way in which Jones spoke all week — carrying himself as a conquering hero above reproach and never a fighter and champion like everybody else — I basically agree with most of what he mentioned. It might be foolish for him to threat his “undefeated” document in a struggle towards an even bigger, youthful champion. If he can receives a commission a pile of cash to go slaughter Alex Pereira (and make no mistake, a slaughter it might be) then that does make extra sense for him. He doesn’t lose out on a lot by merely selecting to retire on prime.

All of that is very actual, and whereas legacy doesn’t pay the payments, Jones has made loads of cash and retiring “undefeated” clearly means quite a bit to him personally. If we’re being trustworthy I believe he ought to stroll away, the identical method I believed Daniel Cormier ought to retire after beating Stipe Miocic.

The outdated adage is all the time go away them wanting extra, and I believe Jon Jones goes to do exactly that.