With UFC 309 just around the corner, Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic are preparing to enter the octagon for what could be a career-defining showdown.
Both fighters have achieved legendary status, and there’s an air of finality surrounding this fight, as fans wonder if this will be the last time they see either fighter in the cage. While Jones, at 37, still has age on his side compared to Miocic, who is now 42, both have already cemented their legacies in MMA. The question is, could this fight signal the end for one—or both?
Jones’ longtime coach, Brandon Gibson, certainly seems to think this could be the last time he corners the heavyweight champion. He’s treating this fight camp as if it could be the end.
“Whenever Jon’s ready [to retire], I’m right there with him,” Gibson shared with MMA Fighting.
“I’m approaching this one like it’s our last go, it’s our last rodeo,” he said, reflecting on his mindset for the upcoming fight.
Jon Jones’ Coach Supports Retirement Decision After UFC 309
However, that doesn’t mean Jones is preparing with any less intensity. According to Gibson, Jones is at the top of his game.
With an incredible resume, Jones has already achieved more than almost any other fighter in UFC history. Many consider him the greatest of all time, and he’s looking to add another name to his list of achievements by beating Miocic. With Miocic holding the record for the longest-reigning heavyweight champion and the most title defenses, the stakes are high for Jones to secure this victory.
“I think physically, mentally, he could go in there and have five or six more great performances,” Gibson commented, “There’s nothing left for Jon to prove.”
“He really wants this fight with Stipe. I think this fight will help solidify Jon’s status as that great heavyweight champion,” Gibson explained, “It’s not something we talk about every night at the gym. We’re definitely all eyes on Nov. 16. But each time I go to a practice, I’m approaching it as this is my last camp. I’m giving it my all.”
One More for Jon Jones is a Blessing?
“If we get one more after this, if we get two more, that would be a great blessing,” Gibson added. “I’m also ready to see Jon hang it up. Put the belt up.”
“Out of all the fighters, Jon deserves to walk away any time he wants,” he noted, “I’m always going to support those guys.”
Despite Jones’ focus on Miocic, some fans feel a matchup with Tom Aspinall, the interim heavyweight champion, would have been the real test. Aspinall boasts an impressive 8-1 record in the UFC, with almost all of his wins coming via first-round finishes. Since Jones stepped away to recover from a pectoral injury, Aspinall has defended his title once, fueling talk of a potential showdown.
Gibson, though, sees a reality in which there will always be another contender waiting.
Jones Doesn’t Have to Prove to Anybody
“There’s always going to be a next No. 1 contender,” he pointed out. “There’s never going to be a perfect time to walk out. Somebody will always say ‘but you didn’t fight that guy.’”
“Ten years from now we’ll have all the generational talks. How would [Muhammad] Ali have done against [Mike] Tyson? How would a Tyson done against Tyson Fury?” he continued, acknowledging the endless debates fans love to have.
“What I do know is Nov. 16 we’ll be standing across the cage, across the octagon from Stipe and his great team. That’s what we’re focused on,” Gibson stated.
Jones hasn’t fought since his heavyweight debut, when he captured the title against Ciryl Gane in the first round. Initially, the Miocic fight was supposed to happen in 2023, but Jones’ torn pectoral muscle delayed the fight to 2024. In the time since, he’s worked to transform himself into an even more formidable heavyweight.
“He is getting stronger, faster, more skilled at heavyweight,” Gibson remarked:
The Move to Heavyweight
“Early on, to make that jump from light heavyweight, to get up to heavyweight was putting on a lot of size, a lot of mass. Now his body has gotten very accustomed to that size.”
“You saw his recent photo, how lean he’s getting for heavyweight,” Gibson continued, “Then we’ve just assembled this super team of training partners and coaches.”
“Jon’s the greatest student in the game as well so he’s always learning. I think he’s already the most dangerous heavyweight there is and now you add in this plethora of new tools, oh it’s just terrifying,” he added.
“He would be a nightmare to coach against because there’s no path to victory against Jon Jones,” Gibson said.
If Jones manages to defeat Miocic, he could choose to end his career on a high note by laying down his gloves and retiring. Alternatively, he might take on Aspinall for a champion-versus-champion clash. Gibson, for his part, is prepared to back whatever Jones decides.
“Jon’s been sacrificing his body for this game for a long time,” Gibson said, “He’s earned it.”
Do you think Jon Jones retires after UFC 309? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
