Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic II: The UFC's Most Polarizing Main Event Returns

The UFC has finalized a heavyweight title rematch between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic for UFC 313, scheduled for April 18 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Jones, 38, successfully defended his undisputed heavyweight title against Miocic in their November 2024 first meeting, ending the fight with a spinning back kick in the third round. The rematch comes after Jones's public rejection of a unification bout with interim champion Tom Aspinall.

UFC CEO Dana White announced the rematch at a press conference in Miami on February 10, calling it "the biggest heavyweight fight of the year." The booking has generated significant controversy among fans and analysts, with several prominent voices — including UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov — questioning Jones's decision to fight Miocic rather than Aspinall, whom many consider the division's second-best fighter.

The First Fight, Revisited

Jones defeated Miocic at UFC 309 in November 2024 via third-round stoppage at Madison Square Garden. The bout was Miocic's first UFC appearance since March 2021. Miocic, 42, had previously held the heavyweight title from 2016 to 2018 and reclaimed it in 2018 before losing to Francis Ngannou in 2021.

The first fight had relatively low statistical significance. Miocic landed only 14 total significant strikes across three rounds, while Jones landed 62, per UFC Stats. The spinning back kick that ended the fight — Jones's third in five heavyweight appearances — came 58 seconds into the third round after Jones had established his distance control in the first two rounds.

Why Not Tom Aspinall?

Tom Aspinall, the UFC's interim heavyweight champion, has been publicly calling for a unification bout with Jones since January 2024. The British fighter, 32, defeated Curtis Blaydes in July 2024 to retain his interim title and has positioned himself as the division's premier active fighter.

Jones has publicly dismissed Aspinall's challenges on multiple occasions. In a January 2026 interview with Joe Rogan's podcast, Jones said he was "not interested in what Aspinall thinks" and that Miocic "is the person I want to fight because he earned it." Jones's refusal to fight Aspinall has generated significant fan backlash, with the fighter receiving sustained boos at a UFC fan expo event in January.

Miocic's Second Preparation

Miocic has approached the rematch training camp with a revised approach, according to his coach Marcus Marinelli. Marinelli told MMA Junkie last month that the camp has focused on "offensive output" after Miocic's passive showing in the first fight. The Cleveland-based trainer said Miocic has worked specifically on his jab rate and power-shot setups.

Miocic's professional record stands at 20-5 across 15 years. His knockout percentage of 57 percent was the highest among UFC heavyweight champions until Francis Ngannou's 71 percent rate. Miocic's wrestling — 50 percent takedown defense — makes him the division's most well-rounded historical champion. Whether his 42-year-old body can execute the game plan against the current Jones remains the central pre-fight question.

Jones's Legacy Questions

Jon Jones holds a professional record of 28-1 with one no-contest across nearly 18 years of professional fighting. His single loss, a 2009 disqualification against Matt Hamill, came before his UFC title run. Jones has held UFC light heavyweight or heavyweight gold since 2011, with only an extended suspension and a weight-class move interrupting his tenure.

His heavyweight career, since its March 2023 debut against Ciryl Gane, has now spanned three fights across three years. Critics argue Jones's reluctance to defend against Aspinall has diminished his legacy. Supporters point to his longevity, technical skill and willingness to fight returning veterans as markers of a Hall of Fame career. Jones himself, when asked at the UFC 313 press conference, said: "I don't fight for the people who hate me. I fight for my family."

UFC 313 Card

Beyond the main event, UFC 313 features a heavyweight co-main event between Ciryl Gane and Serghei Spivac, a women's flyweight title fight between Alexa Grasso and Erin Blanchfield, and a lightweight contender's bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira. The card's pay-per-view price has been set at $79.99, matching the UFC's standard 2026 main event pricing.

Odds for the main event have Jones at -400 (betting favorite) and Miocic at +320, according to BetMGM's opening lines. The total round count is over 2.5 rounds at -150, reflecting the bookmakers' belief that Jones will finish the fight before the championship rounds.

Post-Fight Scenarios

If Jones wins convincingly, pressure will mount on him to fight Aspinall for the undisputed heavyweight unification. Dana White told reporters at the press conference: "After this fight, Jon is going to have to either fight Aspinall or retire." White has not committed to stripping Jones if he refuses the Aspinall fight, though internal UFC sources suggest that decision is being discussed.

If Miocic wins, he would become the first heavyweight to win three separate title reigns. Miocic has said he will retire regardless of the result, a commitment he made at the weigh-in before the first fight. Should Miocic win and retire, Aspinall would likely be elevated to undisputed champion via promotion from interim status.