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NEW YORK — Jon Jones had simply knocked the breath out of the heavyweight challenger he pummeled into retirement when UFC’s biggest fighter broke out a herky-jerky dance contained in the cage and devoted the groove to President-elect Donald Trump.
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As a defeated Stipe Miocic gamely tried to get well on all fours, Jones posed and performed to the packed crowd on prime of the cage, and even had a present for his favorite fan within the entrance row — Trump for a couple of moments clutched the UFC heavyweight title.
Jones and Trump shook fingers and capped a combat night time charged with politics as a lot as punches inside a raucous Madison Sq. Backyard the place “USA!” chants echoed via the world.
“I’m proud to be an amazing American champion,” Jones mentioned contained in the cage.
Jones completed Miocic within the combat — and for good — with a shocking spinning again kick to the ribs and used a collection of blows to the top within the third spherical to get the TKO win and retain the UFC heavyweight championship in entrance of Trump and a slew of potential administration members that helped fill the Backyard.
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Jones dominated at UFC’s fourth-highest grossing occasion of all time — topping $16.6 million — with Elon Musk, picked by Trump to steer a brand new Division of Authorities Effectivity, and Robert Kennedy Jr., Trump’s alternative to steer the Division of Well being and Human Companies in his incoming administration additionally in the home.
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“I need to say a giant, huge thanks to President Donald Trump for being right here tonight,” Jones mentioned to a roaring ovation that bled right into a “USA! USA!” chant.
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Hours earlier, Trump walked out to a rousing ovation in entrance of 20,200 followers simply earlier than the beginning of the pay-per-view card and appeared to bask within the thrill of the fighters who all through the night time gave him props — together with Jones.
Extensively thought-about the most effective fighter on the earth, Jones (28-1-0; 1 NC) was the aggressor from the beginning and landed a collection of photographs to Miocic’s head within the first spherical. Jones bloodied Miocic below his proper eye and confirmed he had loads of combat left within the tank.
British heavyweight Tom Aspinall looms as the subsequent challenger for Jones. Aspinall gained a combat for the interim heavyweight title final November within the Backyard. UFC CEO Dana White had promised Aspinall, who chatted with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, would problem the winner of the primary occasion in a unification bout.
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“So far as my future within the octagon, I made a decision that perhaps I cannot retire,” Jones mentioned. “I do know that we have now choices.”
The 42-year-old Miocic (20-5) failed in his bid to win the heavyweight crown for a 3rd time and the Ohio firefighter who fought for the primary time since March 2021 instantly introduced his retirement.
“I’m carried out,” Miocic mentioned. “I’m hanging ’em up. I’m retiring. Thank God.”
His final combat was in entrance of the subsequent president.
White captioned a photograph he posted on social media “the boys” that featured him with Trump, Child Rock and Musk. Trump pumped a fist throughout an occasional outbreak of “USA! USA!” chants. He was flanked in his front-row seat by White on his proper and Musk on his left and politely applauded the combat winners.
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UFC followers wore pink Trump hats and a few waved flags emblazoned along with his picture throughout breaks within the motion.
In a light-weight bout that made each fan from Child Rock to Jordan Knight to Anthony Kiedis go wild on the end within the fifth spherical, Charles Oliveira beat Michael Chandler by way of unanimous determination. The combat was a rematch of their Could 2021 combat when Charles Oliveira topped Chandler to win the light-weight title. Oliveira staked his declare to a different title combat with the win
The fifth spherical was about pretty much as good because it will get contained in the octagon highlighted by Chandler dropping Oliveira twice on his again. The 38-year-old Chandler stepped contained in the cage for the primary time in two years, largely as a result of he waited for a combat that by no means materialized with Conor McGregor.
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“We’ve been questioning the place you’ve been, Conor,” Chandler bellowed within the cage. “Come again and beat me should you can.”
McGregor has been sued by a lady who accused him of sexually assaulting her in a Dublin resort in 2018.
Trump is tight with White, a relationship that dates to UFC’s adolescence earlier than its rise right into a billion-dollar promotion. New Jersey was one of many first states that embraced UFC and White has lengthy credited fights on the Trump Taj Mahal for serving to the corporate develop right into a heavyweight within the sports activities world. White each spoke at Trump’s request on the Republican Nationwide Conference and appeared on stage on the election occasion.
UFC fighters spoke this week in New York with pleasure about incomes the possibility to combat in entrance of Trump.
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“To see Dana up on stage on the election, I really feel like that second simply elevated the entire sport,” Jones mentioned. “Individuals, folks from world wide had been like, who’s the bald-headed dude speaking? That represents all of us.”
Bo Nickal topped Paul Craig by unanimous determination in a welterweight combat, then crouched to talk to Trump.
“I confirmed him my golf swing, requested him the way it seemed,” Nickal mentioned. “He mentioned it wants work.”
Trump threw his arms open when he noticed UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan. Trump and Rogan embraced and shared a couple of phrases earlier than the opening bout of the primary card.
Trump sat forward of the election for a three-hour interview on Rogan’s podcast. Rogan helped encourage on the podcast a few of Trump’s false claims about voting, election fraud and his loss within the 2020 presidential election.
Rogan endorsed Trump for president.
Donald Jr. and Eric Trump, and Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., additionally attended.
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