Jon Jones will finally make his return to the Octagon to defend his UFC heavyweight title against former champion Stipe Miocic at the upcoming UFC 309 pay-per-view (PPV) card on Nov. 16 from inside Madison Square Garden in New York City.
UFC CEO, Dana White, revealed the news in a recent interview with Complex Sports (shown below). The promotion is also expected to unveil UFC 309’s PPV main card later tonight during the broadcast for Noche UFC.
The long-awaited heavyweight legacy fight between Jones and Miocic was originally expected to take place at UFC 295 in November of last year. This came after Jones defeated Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 earlier in 2023 after a three-year hiatus. Unfortunately, “Bones” ended up tearing his pectoral muscle and was pulled from his fight against Miocic. The promotion has been waiting to reschedule it ever since.
Making things more interesting along the way has been the rise of interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. The surging English star has looked downright unstoppable and is coming off three-straight, first-round knockout victories, including a title fight win over Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 and his first defense of the interim strap against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.
Despite Aspinall’s wild success and plea for UFC to feed him Jones, the promotion is still rolling with Miocic. It’s a matchup that both Jones and Miocic have been waiting for and one that will now headline one of the last PPV cards of 2024.
Adding to UFC 309’s growing card will be a lightweight rematch between fan-favorite Michael Chandler and former UFC champion Charles Oliveira. Chandler has waited close to two years to get his long-awaited fight against Conor McGregor, but on Friday he decided to turn the page and get back into the Octagon.
And we know why Dana was barking about Jones and GOAT all the time in the recent past. And a cheater can’t be GOAT only pico GOAT
I am Jack’s complete lack of enthusiasm
I thought everyone said there was no way it could be this date because of a concert there?
Jones still having that belt is a fucking joke.
i think it went from 11/9 to 11/16
Stipe is like a father figure to me…
Not because of anything he said or did
Its because he’s old enough to be everyone’s dad
Finally, we’ll know who is really king of the master’s division (Jones).
The excitement and suspense for the obvious and irrelevant outcome is almost too much to handle.
I respect Stipe as a former champion and all that he has done in the division but there is no logical argument as to why he should have a shot at the title before Aspinall.
A guy who has been active and winning and is the current interim champion.
Miocic hasn’t won a fight in 4 years and hasn’t even fought since 2021.
I dont understand what the fuck Dana is doing here. This is a one and done fight for both guys and a farce of a title fight. Is he really that desperate for a one off pay day? Aspinall is a rare heavyweight superstar and the UFC should be 100% behind him with their promotion.
Oh yeah Jon Jones the pico GOAT vs Stipe for ultimate UFC GOAT-NESS! Delicious Cherry-flavored UFC kool-aid WOOOHOOO!!!
…just kidding lol!
Wolf tickets 
Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic finally have a date and location, though the details of the fight shouldn’t come as a surprise.
All signs pointed toward a November showdown between Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) and Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) at Madison Square Garden and on Saturday the promotion made it official. The heavyweight title fight will headline UFC 309 on Nov. 16 in New York.
UFC CEO Dana White announced the title fight to Complex on Friday. UFC broadcast partner ESPN also shared the news on Saturday.
Jones and Miocic have been aligned for well over a year, as the two were scheduled to compete at UFC 295 in November. The fight was canceled after Jones tore his pectoral muscle and required surgery. Miocic, with the UFC’s backing, elected to wait for the Jones matchup.
In place of the undisputed title fight, the UFC booked Tom Aspinall vs. Sergei Pavlovich for an interim title. Aspinall finished Spivac with strikes in the first round, then defended the title in July vs. Curtis Blaydes, who he finished with strikes in exactly one minute.
UFC CEO Dana White firmly stood by the concurrent title reigns, holding out for the Jones vs. Miocic booking despite inactivity from both fighters.
Jones has not competed since he won the vacant heavyweight title vs. Ciryl Gane in March 2023. The fight was his first since February 2020. As for Miocic, he hasn’t competed since he lost the title to Francis Ngannou in March 2021.
With the addition, the UFC 309 fight card includes:
- Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic – for heavyweight title
- Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira
- Eryk Anders vs. Chris Weidman
- Viviane Araujo vs. Karine Silva
- Nikita Krylov vs. Azamat Murzakanov
- Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura
- Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee
- Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Mickey Gall
I hope Stipe gets a walk-off KO.
Is this fight Dana’s Love Letter to the American Fight fans
This.
