Welcome to Midnight Mania!
UFC Heavyweight champion Jon Jones is the talk of the town this week, but it’s really not because he’s returning after the better part of two years to defend his title against Stipe Miocic. There’s almost no discussion around that fight despite its status as the main event of UFC 309, which takes place in the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
Instead, the conversation continues to revolve around Jones and interim kingpin Tom Aspinall. Aspinall’s rise to stardom and championship gold has come at a perfect time to pose an intriguing challenge to the all-time great “Bones,” but Jones has consistently remarked that he isn’t interested. According to Jones, Aspinall is too new and doesn’t do anything for his resume.
Former Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, who not that long ago was the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter on the roster, disagrees. “The Great” knows a thing or two about chasing double champion status, and he believes that Jones simply has to face Aspinall if he’s to be a “proper double champion.”
“If you want to be a Heavyweight champion, you want to claim that crown,” Volkanovski said of Jones on his YouTube channel. “It’s going to be hard to convince me you’re defending champ if you don’t fight Tom Aspinall while he’s the interim champ. Does Jon Jones even need to do this? No. He’s already got an incredible legacy. But if you want to claim the Heavyweight division, say you were a proper double champ — you gotta fight Tom Aspinall!”
“ … If you want that on your resume saying that I’m the best Heavyweight while i was there, you have to fight Tom Aspinall. I think he’s definitely the biggest threat, the wrestling, he can dangerous everywhere, and he’s a legit Heavyweight.”
Volkanovski also explained that he understands why Jones would want to fight a major star in Alex Pereira but thinks dropping the Heavyweight belt would be necessary to do so. All told, it’s going to be very interesting to see whether or not Jon Jones’ career continues beyond Saturday night and what lies in his future.
LIVE! Watch UFC 309 PPV On ESPN+ Here!
LEGACY ON THE LINE! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to “The Big Apple” in New York, N.Y., on Sat., Nov. 16, 2024, with the long-awaited, legacy-defining Heavyweight showdown between reigning division champion, Jon Jones, looking to ride off into the sunset as the bonafide G.O.A.T. at the expense of former kingpin, Stipe Miocic. In UFC 309’s pay-per-view (PPV) co-headliner from inside Madison Square Garden, former Lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira, will run it back with Michael Chandler, who has been sitting on the sidelines unsuccessfully waiting for Conor McGregor’s ill-fated comeback. UFC 309 will also feature the exciting returns of super prospects Mauricio Ruffy and Bo Nickal (in separate fights) and so much more! UFC 309’s start time is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (Prelims card) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV main card).
Insomnia
Bringing back the old gloves for a Jones event is the most unintentionally hilarious thing UFC has ever done.
Just a few guys being dudes.
Wild times on the Russian regional scene! Anecdote of the week: I did once watch a fighter get arrested immediately after his fight at Gladiator Challenge in Northern California. He won via KO in 22 seconds!
Scenes in Russia as Hype FC event, scheduled for today, is abruptly canceled just moments before the first fight, as law enforcement arrives on the scene pic.twitter.com/NyPPxDs5Mv
— Matysek (@Matysek88) November 12, 2024
No easy fights for Edson Barboza — Steve Garcia has been on a tear!
Dana White casually winning more money than most of his champions will make this year:
A tricky technique from the great Craig Jones!
Fighting Rodtang for $8k is ROUGH!
According to Jacob Smith’s team, the British fighter took home $8,000 for his Muay Thai flyweight title shot, along with an additional 20% of Rodtang’s purse after the Thai star missed weight. Rodtang’s earnings are rumored to exceed $270,000.#ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/jWgXNK02W2
— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) November 12, 2024
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Absolutely frantic hand-fighting and a great turn at the end.
Khabib cousins grow on trees, have cool names, and win fights like nobody’s business.
Former One Championship Flyweight king Adriano Moraes is back in the win column.
Random Land
What would you do in this situation?
Midnight Music: Soul, 2020
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
