NEW YORK (AP) — Jon Jones solidified his place as one of UFC’s all-time greats with a dominant victory over Stipe Miocic on Saturday, sending the heavyweight challenger into retirement. After finishing Miocic with a brutal third-round TKO, Jones celebrated by dancing in the cage and dedicating the moment to President-elect Donald Trump, who was sitting ringside.
Jones, ever the showman, posed atop the cage and tossed the heavyweight title to Trump for a brief moment, much to the delight of the crowd. The fight took place at Madison Square Garden, where the atmosphere was charged with political energy, as Trump and other key members of his upcoming administration filled the front row.
“I’m proud to be a great American champion,” Jones said, speaking to the crowd after his victory, as chants of “USA! USA!” rang out from the stands.
Jones (28-1-0; 1 NC) wasted no time establishing control over the fight, landing a flurry of headshots in the opening round that left Miocic bloodied under his right eye. The fight concluded in the third round when Jones landed a spinning back kick to Miocic’s ribs, followed by a barrage of punches that forced the referee to call for a TKO finish, retaining the UFC heavyweight championship.
The event, UFC’s fourth-highest grossing of all time, grossed over $16.6 million and featured several prominent figures in the crowd, including Elon Musk and Robert Kennedy Jr., both of whom are expected to take roles in Trump’s administration.
“Big thank you to President Donald Trump for being here tonight,” Jones said, prompting another round of cheers.
Earlier in the evening, Trump was greeted by a roaring ovation from the 20,200 fans before the pay-per-view card began. Throughout the night, fighters like Jones expressed their admiration for Trump, and the night was filled with political gestures, with UFC CEO Dana White also in attendance.
Miocic (20-5) failed in his attempt to capture the heavyweight title for a third time and immediately announced his retirement after the defeat. “I’m done,” Miocic said. “I’m hanging ’em up. Thank God.”
Jones, widely regarded as the best fighter in the sport, has his sights set on future challenges. British heavyweight Tom Aspinall, who won the interim heavyweight title last year, is expected to face Jones next in a unification bout. UFC president Dana White has confirmed that Aspinall, who was spotted chatting with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, will challenge the winner of Saturday’s main event.
Jones, however, hinted at his own uncertainty regarding retirement. “As far as my future in the octagon, I decided that maybe I will not retire,” he said. “I know we have options.”
The evening was also filled with action outside the main event. In a thrilling lightweight bout, Charles Oliveira defeated Michael Chandler via unanimous decision in the fifth round, staking his claim for another title shot. Chandler, who had been hoping for a fight with Conor McGregor, taunted the absent star, calling him out from the cage.
As the night unfolded, UFC fans could be seen sporting red Trump hats and waving flags with his image. The political presence added a unique flavor to the event, with White and Trump sharing moments together throughout the evening. The fight cards also featured Bo Nickal’s unanimous decision win over Paul Craig, and the UFC universe buzzed with excitement, heightened by the political energy of the night.
Trump’s ties to UFC date back to its early days when he helped elevate the sport’s profile. White has long credited fights at the Trump Taj Mahal as pivotal to UFC’s growth.
“This moment just elevated the whole sport,” Jones said of Trump’s presence. “Americans, people from around the world were like, who’s the bald-headed guy talking? That represents all of us.”
Other notable attendees included Trump’s sons, Donald Jr. and Eric Trump, as well as House Speaker Mike Johnson.
