Jon Jones’ coach preparing for UFC 309 like ‘it’s our last rodeo’

Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic are preparing to meet in the UFC 309 main event but there’s almost as much curiosity surrounding what happens afterwards as there is what’s going to happen in the fight.

There are longstanding rumors that both competitors might call it a career and it’s tough to fault that logic. At 42, Miocic doesn’t have age on his side while Jones isn’t far behind at 37. The two have accomplished more in their illustrious careers than most fighters could ever dream of.

While it’s highly unlikely any decision on retirement is announced prior to the event, Jones’ longtime coach Brandon Gibson is treating the current training camp like this is the last time he makes the walk with the reigning UFC heavyweight champion.

“Whenever Jon’s ready [to retire], I’m right there with him,” Gibson told MMA Fighting. “I’m approaching this one like it’s our last go, it’s our last rodeo.”

Just because the upcoming fight against Miocic might be the final time Jones appears in the UFC doesn’t mean he’s already got one foot out the door. Gibson insists when it comes to Jones’ actual skills and preparation, he’s never been sharper.

Jones has already accomplished so much in the sport, with fighters, fans, and pundits regularly discussing him as the greatest of all time, so there aren’t many more accolades that he could add to his résumé. Beating Miocic, the longest-reigning heavyweight champion in UFC history and also the record-holder for most defenses of that title (3), is definitely a checkmark that Jones wants before calling it a career, but Gibson acknowledges there has to be a finish line for every athlete at some point.

“I think physically, mentally, he could go in there and have five or six more great performances,” Gibson said. “There’s nothing left for Jon to prove. I think he really wants this fight with Stipe. I think this fight will help solidify Jon’s status as that great heavyweight champion but 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.

“If we get one more after this, if we get two more, that would be a great blessing. I’m also ready to see Jon hang it up. Put the belt up. I’d prefer them to walk away obviously earlier than later. Out of all the fighters, Jon deserves to walk away any time he wants. I’m always going to support those guys.”

A huge part of the narrative leading up to UFC 309 is that Jones is facing an easier opponent in Miocic, as opposed to throwing down with Tom Aspinall. The interim heavyweight champion sports an 8-1 record in the UFC with all but one of his wins ending by first round knockout or submission and he has already defended his title once in Jones’ absence.

As much respect as Gibson maintains for Aspinall or any other potential opponent for Jones, he knows that there’s always going to be another challenge awaiting any champion in the sport. A couple of years ago Jones fighting Francis Ngannou was all anybody could talk about and now that attention has shifted dramatically towards Aspinall.

“There’s always going to be a next No. 1 contender,” Gibson said. “There’s never going to be a perfect time to walk out. Somebody will always say ‘but you didn’t fight that guy.’ To me, it doesn’t matter.

“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? There’s always going to be those types of discussions that will come down the road, too. There’s always a lot of what ifs in this game but 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.”

By the time Jones competes on Nov. 16, he’ll be over 20 months removed from his most recent appearance in the UFC when he dispatched Ciryl Gane in the first round to claim the vacant heavyweight title. While he had to take time off to recover from a torn pectoral muscle, which is why the Miocic fight was pushed back from 2023 to 2024, Jones has continued to adapt his body to become the best heavyweight possible.

As impressive as his heavyweight debut was, Gibson expects even better out of Jones when he competes in the division for the second time against Miocic.

“He is getting stronger, faster, more skilled at heavyweight,” Gibson said. “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 and 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 would be a nightmare to coach against because there’s no path to victory against Jon Jones.”

If all goes well at UFC 309 and Jones beats Miocic to add that name to his résumé, he may decide right then and there to lay down his gloves and retire or perhaps he’ll call out Aspinall for a champion versus champion fight.

No matter what, Gibson plans to support the decision because he believes if anyone has earned the right to go out on his terms, it’s Jones.

“Jon’s been sacrificing his body for this game for a long time,” Gibson said. “He’s earned it.”