Jon Jones reacts after his TKO victory against Stipe Miocic in the UFC heavyweight championship fight at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 16, 2024 in New York City. Photo AFP
Jon Jones, who is regarded as the greatest MMA fighter of all time, retained his UFC heavyweight title and celebrated his win with a tribute dance to President-elect Donald Trump in New York.
Jones defeated Stipe Miocic via technical knockout at the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night.
Trump attended the event alongside high-profile figures including billionaire Elon Musk, UFC president Dana White, speaker of House of Representative Mike Johnson, his sons Donald Jr. and Eric, singer Kid Rock and several advisors slated for roles in his new administration, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard. The 78-year-old was warmly welcomed by fans at the event, The Guardian reported.
In the octagon, 37-year-old Jones dominated Miocic, ending the fight with a spinning kick to the abdomen that forced the referee to step in and call for medical attention. After the victory, Jones performed a celebratory dance reminiscent of Trump’s signature moves during his political career. He then pointed to Trump and gave him a thumbs-up, receiving applause from the president-elect.
Jones then exited the octagon, shook Trump’s hands and had a few words with him. Musk, seated next to Trump, raised his fist and applauded in support of Jones’ performance.
Jon Jones does the Donald Trump dance after retaining the UFC heavyweight title on Nov. 17, 2024.
“I want to say a big, big thank you to President Donald Trump for being here tonight,” Jones said as the crowd chanted “USA! USA!”.
Jones, widely regarded as the greatest MMA fighter of all time, boasts a record of 28 wins from 30 professional fights. He holds multiple light heavyweight division records, including most title defenses, wins and longest winning streak.
However, his career has faced some challenges, including losing his title three times between 2015 and 2017 due to controversies. He made a triumphant return in 2018, reclaiming the light heavyweight title and later dropping it in 2020 before moving up to the heavyweight division in 2023.
Meanwhile, Miocic, 42, a two-time heavyweight champion, announced his retirement following the loss. The Croatian-American fighter ends his career with a record of 20 wins and five losses.
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