Jon Jones will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 tonight, a year after the fight was first scheduled.

Jones and Miocic were due to meet at Madison Square Garden last November, but a torn pectoral muscle forced “Bones” out of the fight – delaying his first title defence by 12 months. Now the former light-heavyweight champion, 37, and heavyweight great Miocic, 42, will meet at MSG at long last, though their fight has proven controversial.

When their bout fell through last year, Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich stepped up, with the Briton knocking out the Russian to become interim champion. Since then, Aspinall has even retained the interim belt – a rare occurrence in the UFC – leading many fans to see him as the true champion.

Jones, meanwhile, has not fought since winning the vacant heavyweight title in March 2023, and Miocic has not fought in almost four years. Furthermore, Miocic’s last fight ended in a vicious KO loss, and he and Jones have both hinted at retirement after tonight’s bout... potentially leaving Aspinall in the lurch.

Follow live updates and results from the main UFC 309 main card and prelims, below.

UFC 309 LIVE

• Jon Jones defends heavyweight title against former champion Stipe Miocic

• Fight was due 12 months ago, but injured Jones withdrew from contest

• Interim champ Tom Aspinall awaits, should neither Jones, 37, nor Miocic, 42, retire

• Co-main event pits Michael Chandler against Charles Oliveira in rematch

• Oliveira submitted Chandler in 2021 to win vacant lightweight title

• Rematch comes after Chandler waited 18 months for failed Conor McGregor fight

• Chris Weidman vs Eryk Anders cancelled on short notice, with Anders ill

• Trump reported to return to MSG tonight – weeks after controversial rally

UFC 309 LIVE: Mickey Gall vs Ramiz Brahimaj

00:45 , Alex Pattle

Next up, Mickey Gall vs Ramiz Brahimaj at welterweight.

Gall has had an underwhelming UFC career in all honesty, but it began with his famous submission of CM Punk in 2016 – when the latter, a famous WWE star, made his MMA debut.

Round one

Gall’s jiu-jitsu has always been his greatest strength, but he’s been working on his striking in recent times. Can he show improvements here?

One or two clean, well-timed crosses suggest he can. But Brahimaj has moments of success in the opening minutes, too, including a grazing knee in the clinch.

Ohhhh!!!! And now Brahimaj SLEEPS Gall!

He switches stances mid-combination, landing a left hook and right hook, and the latter punch foldssssss Gall.

Ramiz Brahimaj def. Mickey Gall via first-round KO (right hook, 2:55)

UFC 309 LIVE: Bassil Hafez vs Oban Elliott

00:24 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Some better work from Hafez as the round goes on, but the fight is still largely being fought on Elliott’s terms.

The Welshman is managing range well, utilising kicks nicely. He lands a crisp left hook now.

Elliott is also starting to press forward more. Both men land in a tense exchange.

Elliott with a front kick to the face! He might have been trying a crescent kick, in fact. He then leans back to avoid a one-two; that was close.

Round three

OH! Elliott gets the finish early in round three!

He drops Hafez with a brutal overhand right, then pours on punches and hammer fists! Eventually, referee Marc Goddard steps in!

In truth, Elliott might have been allowed to land a few shots too many there...

It looked like he knocked out Hafez, then woke him back up, before Goddard finally intervened.

Oban Elliott def. Bassil Hafez via third-round KO (punches and hammer fists, 0:40)

UFC 309 LIVE: Bassil Hafez vs Oban Elliott

00:16 , Alex Pattle

Onto welterweight action, between Bassil Hafez and Wales’s Oban Elliott.

Round one

Both men stand orthodox. There’s some early grappling between the pair, against the fence, initiated by Hafez.

They separate, and Elliott lands a hard body kick. He throws more and eventually goes too low on one, and is warned.

More body kicks by the Welshman, but they’re front kicks now.

Hafez has the centre of the ring and misses with a winging overhand right. He lands a spiteful kick of his own, and Elliott wags his finger to say it didn’t hurt him.

Good first round for Elliott.

UFC 309 LIVE: Donald Trump reported to return to MSG tonight – weeks after controversial rally

00:06 , Alex Pattle

Donald Trump will reportedly return to Madison Square Garden tonight, attending UFC 309 with Dana White – president of the mixed martial arts promotion.

Trump has attended numerous UFC events with White, who spoke at the president-elect’s victory celebration earlier this month in Mar-a-Lago. And this evening, he is expected to be ringside at UFC 309 in New York City’s MSG, according to the New York Post.

It was there that Trump hosted a controversial rally just a few weeks ago, with comedian Tony Hinchcliffe delivering racist jokes inside the world-famous arena.

More here:

Donald Trump to return to MSG weeks after controversial rally for UFC 309 – reports

UFC 309 LIVE: Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura

Saturday 16 November 2024 23:58 , Alex Pattle

Round three

Before the final round, Hardy’s husband – in her corner – calls for more action and more risks.

Hardy obliges as the round progresses, but will it be enough as we go to the judges’ scorecards?

Let’s see...

Not enough! Moura gets it done!

Eduarda Moura def. Veronica Hardy via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

UFC 309 LIVE: Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura

Saturday 16 November 2024 23:51 , Alex Pattle

Round one

Hardy, with her husband in her corner, stands southpaw. Moura is orthodox.

Moura takes the centre of the ring for most of the first round, pressing forward. She switches stances here and there.

Hardy invests in the body of her opponent throughout.

Moura with a fair few missed punches from range, loading up big.

Hardy with a body kick late in the round, and Moura catches it, taking down her opponent.

Round two

Another takedown for Moura, who drags down Hardy by the cage wall.

Moura has the back, but Hardy does well to stand quite quickly.

Moura controls Hardy for the bulk of the round, and late on, she ends up in Hardy’s guard by the fence.

Hard elbow from Moura, who then stands and eats a couple of up-kicks by Hardy.

UFC 309 LIVE: Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura

Saturday 16 November 2024 23:33 , Alex Pattle

Okay, the first fight is finally here; the broadcast team had to fill some time, of course, with Weidman vs Anders cancelled.

Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura, a women’s flyweight contest, gets us started.

Hardy is the wife of former UFC title challenger Dan Hardy.

UFC 309 LIVE: Chris Weidman vs Eryk Anders cancelled

Saturday 16 November 2024 23:20 , Alex Pattle

Well, that’s why we said ‘subject to late changes’ when we gave you tonight’s card in full: Chris Weidman vs Eryk Anders has been cancelled on short notice!

Anders is ill, and unable to face the former middleweight champion.

UFC 309 LIVE: Michael Bisping interview

Saturday 16 November 2024 22:58 , Alex Pattle

We spoke to UFC legend Michael Bisping about tonight’s main event, and he answered some of the overlooked questions ahead of Jones vs Miocic:

Jones vs Miocic won’t bring ‘traditional’ KO, Michael Bisping predicts

UFC 309 LIVE: Chandler vs Oliveira in co-main event

Saturday 16 November 2024 22:54 , Alex Pattle

UFC 309 LIVE: Dana White confirms plans for Jones vs Tom Aspinall

Saturday 16 November 2024 22:52 , Alex Pattle

Jones has said he has no interest in facing Aspinall, if he gets past Miocic tonight.

But UFC president Dana White will seemingly not let Jones off that easy...

Dana White confirms UFC plans for Jon Jones v Tom Aspinall

UFC 309 LIVE: Odds

Saturday 16 November 2024 22:45 , Alex Pattle

Jones – 2/13

Miocic – 21/4

Via Betway.

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UFC 309 LIVE: Fight card in full – prelims and main card

Saturday 16 November 2024 22:37 , Alex Pattle

Subject to late changes...

Main card

Jon Jones (champion) vs Stipe Miocic (heavyweight title)

Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler 2 (lightweight, five rounds)

Bo Nickal vs Paul Craig (middleweight)

Viviane Araujo vs Karine Silva (women’s flyweight)

Mauricio Ruffy vs James Llontop (lightweight)

Prelims

Jonathan Martinez vs Marcus McGhee (bantamweight)

Chris Weidman vs Eryk Anders (middleweight)

Jim Miller vs Damon Jackson (lightweight)

David Onama vs Roberto Romero (lightweight)

Early prelims

Marcin Tybura vs Jhonata Diniz (heavyweight)

Mickey Gall vs Ramiz Brahimaj (welterweight)

Bassil Hafez vs Oban Elliott (welterweight)

Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura (women’s flyweight)

UFC 309 card in full as Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic headlines

UFC 309 LIVE: How to watch

Saturday 16 November 2024 22:25 , Alex Pattle

The card will air live on TNT Sports Box Office in the UK at a cost of £19.99, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. Discovery+ will also air the action in the UK, with the same pay-per-view cost applying. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the event live on pay-per-view for $69.99, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.

If you want to stream major sporting events while you are travelling or watching from abroad you’ll need a VPN. Get the best VPN deals in the UK. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.

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How to watch Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 online and on TV

UFC 309 LIVE: Start time

Saturday 16 November 2024 22:10 , Alex Pattle

UFC 309 will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City tonight.

The early prelims are due to begin at 11pm GMT (3pm PT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET), with the prelims following at 1am GMT on Sunday (5pm PT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET on Saturday). The main card is then set for 3am GMT on Sunday (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET on Saturday).

What time does Jon Jones fight Stipe Miocic at UFC 309?

UFC 309 LIVE

Saturday 16 November 2024 22:00 , Alex Pattle

Jon Jones will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 tonight, a year after the fight was first scheduled.

Jones and Miocic were due to meet at Madison Square Garden last November, but a torn pectoral muscle forced “Bones” out of the fight – delaying his first title defence by 12 months. Now the former light-heavyweight champion, 37, and heavyweight great Miocic, 42, will meet at MSG at long last, though their fight has proven controversial.

When their bout fell through last year, Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich stepped up, with the Briton knocking out the Russian to become interim champion. Since then, Aspinall has even retained the interim belt – a rare occurrence in the UFC – leading many fans to see him as the true champion.

Jones, meanwhile, has not fought since winning the vacant heavyweight title in March 2023, and Miocic has not fought in almost four years. Furthermore, Miocic’s last fight ended in a vicious KO loss, and he and Jones have both hinted at retirement after tonight’s bout... potentially leaving Aspinall in the lurch.