Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic RESULT: Legend is slayed as 'spinning' body kick leads to massive KO in UFC 309 main event

Jon Jones established his legacy as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time by stopping Stipe Miocic with a spectacular kick to retain his heavyweight belt at UFC 309.

Jones stops Miocic with spinning kick to retain title.

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Jones defeated fellow American Miocic with a thudding spinning back kick in the third round at New York's Madison Square Garden, making his first title defense.

Jones, 37, stated that he intends to continue his UFC career, but would not specify if his next bout will be against Britain's interim champion Tom Aspinall.

"As far as my future in the octagon, I decided that maybe I will not retire," Jones told reporters.

"I'll have some conversations and we have some negotiating to do and if everything goes right, maybe we'll give you guys what you want to see."

Miocic, 42, announced his retirement following loss.

"It sucked that I lost. I knew he was among the finest of all time. Came on strong. I felt great. "I was blocking, and he hit me in the ribs," Miocic claimed.

"I'm finished." I am hanging them up. I am retiring, thank God."

Jones, the former light-heavyweight champion, won his 16th championship battle and 22nd overall in the UFC.

Miocic, meanwhile, exits the sport with the record for the most heavyweight championship defenses (four) and is usually regarded as the division's best champion.

The event's grandeur was boosted by American President-elect Donald Trump, who sat octagon-side after coming to a loud greeting with tech billionaire Elon Musk, artist Kid Rock, and UFC president Dana White.

Trump waved to fans chanting "USA" as he headed to the ring, then soaked up cheers and danced as the UFC showed video commemorating his election triumph.

White was a prominent backer and advocate for Trump during the election, while the UFC continues to face legal challenges to its operations via lawsuits filed by former athletes.

The UFC showcased the match as the largest heavyweight bout in history, but Aspinall, who was watching from the octagon, dominated the narrative during fight week.

Aspinall stated he had been barred from attending a news conference and weigh-ins, with Jones becoming more irritated by media inquiries concerning the 31-year-old Briton.

A year ago, Aspinall won the interim championship against Sergei Pavlovich when Jones was forced to withdraw from his initial match with Miocic due to an injury.

Rather of scheduling a unification championship fight, Jones v Miocic was rescheduled.

Miocic was carefree as he walked out, showcasing the same careless attitude he had during the buildup.

Jones, for his part, laughed and high-fived fans as he entered the octagon to Jadakiss' 'The Champ is Here', before performing his iconic cartwheel.

As Bruce Buffer made his introductions, Aspinall rose to his feet, and Jones started the battle with a blistering left hand.

Large parts of the audience waving Croatia flags in favor of Miocic yelled "Stipe, Stipe" in the early going, but Jones quiet them with an early takedown.

Jones, who has the second-best takedown defense in UFC history at 95%, controlled the rest of the round, looking for armbars and landing many elbows.

In the second round, he continued to put pressure on Miocic, injuring him with a body kick and landed a knee from the clinch before the former champion replied with his signature straight right.

A straight left jab followed by a short right hand midway through the bout resulted in a gash below Miocic's right eye.

With Miocic backed up against the cage, Jones delivered a powerful spinning back kick to the body, dropping the challenger, before the referee intervened to terminate the fight.

Jones celebrated by dancing in the center of the octagon before greeting Trump and giving up his championship.

This was Jones' 28th victory, with his only loss coming in 2009 when he was disqualified against Matt Hamill for utilizing illegal elbows - a maneuver that would be permitted under current regulations.

"It's like fighting the Terminator," Jones remarked about Miocic.

"It's incredibly depressing to slap someone who doesn't respond to it. But that body shot, no matter how tough you are, the liver remains the liver."

Miocic, who did not symbolically remove his gloves as retiring boxers typically do, paid respect to Jones.

"I just did not follow through on my responsibilities. Congratulations to him. He performed what he was meant to and won. "I only wish him the best," Miocic said.

On the undercard, Welsh welterweight Oban Elliott produced the first highlight-reel moment of the night, knocking out American Bassil Hafez in the third round with a massive overhand right.

Elliott, 26, celebrated by strolling in the center of the octagon and cupping each of his ears, like famous WWE superstars Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan.

Elliott's third victory since his UFC debut last year brings his career record to 11 victories and two losses.

In other news, American Bo Nickal defeated Scotland's Paul Craig by unanimous decision.

The audience booed the bout, which had no notable moments, as middleweight Nickal extended his unbeaten record to seven and Craig suffered his third consecutive loss.