Jon Jones sent Stipe Miocic into retirement with a stunning back kick to the ribs and a series of head blows in the third round, retaining the UFC heavyweight championship in front of US president-elect Donald Trump at UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

Jones celebrated atop the octagon, posing for the crowd that included Trump, Elon Musk, and Robert Kennedy Jr. Trump received a rousing ovation from the 20,200 fans before the pay-per-view event and seemed to enjoy the night's thrilling fights, including Jones' performance.

"I want to give a big thank you to President Donald Trump for being here tonight," Jones said, sparking a "USA! USA!" chant. "I'm proud to be a great American champion."

Jones (28-1-0; 1 NC), widely regarded as the best fighter in the world, dominated Miocic from the start, landing multiple head shots in the first round. British heavyweight Tom Aspinall, who won the interim heavyweight title last November, is expected to be Jones' next challenger.

Miocic (20-5) failed in his attempt to win the heavyweight title for the third time and announced his retirement immediately after the fight. "I'm done," Miocic said. "I'm hanging 'em up."

UFC CEO Dana White posted a photo on social media captioned "the boys" featuring himself, Trump, Kid Rock, and Musk. Trump, seated front row with White and Musk, enthusiastically applauded the fight winners.

In a lightweight bout, Charles Oliveira beat Michael Chandler via unanimous decision, marking a rematch of their May 2021 fight. Oliveira's victory positions him for another title fight.

Chandler, after the fight, addressed Conor McGregor, who has been embroiled in legal issues. "We've been wondering where you've been, Conor," Chandler said. "Come back and beat me if you can."

Trump's relationship with White dates back to UFC's early days, with New Jersey being one of the first states to embrace the sport. White has credited fights at the Trump Taj Mahal for helping UFC grow into a billion-dollar promotion.

UFC fighters expressed excitement about performing in front of Trump, with Jones noting the significance of White's appearance at the Republican National Convention. "To see Dana up on stage at the election, I feel like that moment just elevated the whole sport," Jones said.

In a welterweight fight, Bo Nickal topped Paul Craig by unanimous decision and expressed a desire to golf with Trump. Trump also embraced UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan before the main card.

Donald Jr., Eric Trump, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., were also in attendance.

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