Jon Jones Says Next UFC Fight Is Nov. 9 in New York's MSG amid Stipe Miocic Rumors
Tyler Conway@@jtylerconway
Featured Columnist IVJuly 4, 2024
Jon Jones' return to the Octagon has an official date.
The reigning UFC heavyweight champion said he's set to return for Nov. 9's pay-per-view at Madison Square Garden.
Championship Rounds @ChampRDS🚨 Jon Jones says he's going to be fighting on November 9th at Madison Square Garden 👀<br><br>"I know it seems like a dream but it's really happening."<br><br>(via. IG / <a href="https://twitter.com/JonnyBones?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JonnyBones</a>) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MMA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MMA</a> <a href="https://t.co/3GbIpagSyq">pic.twitter.com/3GbIpagSyq</a>
Jones has not fought since winning the heavyweight title with a first-round submission win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023. He's fought precisely one round in the UFC since February 2020, with a mix of contract disputes, legal trouble and injuries keeping him on the sidelines.
The 36-year-old was originally slated to face Stipe Miocic last November but suffered a torn pectoral tendon while training and pulled out of the bout. Miocic has been widely rumored to be his next opponent, but no official fight has been announced by the UFC.
Despite his regular absences, Jones is considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the promotion by president Dana White.
"This is the problem with the conversation that we're having here and why people aren't giving Jon Jones the respect for pound-for-pound," White said at his post-UFC 303 press conference. "This f--king guy destroyed the best heavyweight in the division. [He] easily made it look like nothing. Jon Jones is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world and the greatest fighter f---king ever. Period. End of story."
Jones is 27-1 (1) during his MMA career. His only loss came via disqualification in 2009 when he was docked for using illegal elbows against Matt Hamill. He also has a 2017 no contest against Daniel Cormier after Jones tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.