MMA fighter Jon ‘Bones’ Jones sent fans into a frenzy as he presented his UFC championship belt to Donald Trump.
The heavyweight fighter bowed down to the president-elect moments after his win over Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden.
Trump had been expected at ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena,’ where he recently held a blockbuster campaign rally ahead of his November 5 electoral victory.
Jones admitted the president-elect’s presence in the crowd helped turn up the heat ahead of the clash.
‘The nerves you added to this event,’ he laughed as the two chatted cageside. ‘I was so nervous. I’m glad I impressed you.’
Moments before, the champion had handed over his iconic belt to a beaming Trump, who offered him a handshake in return to congratulate him on his knockout win.
Jon Jones just won his UFC match and gave the championship belt to Trump pic.twitter.com/XsB2bEaZIL
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) November 17, 2024
Miocic put on a better fight than most expected in the clash of titans.
However, Jones landed a spinning back kick to Miocic’s rib cage at 4:29 in the third round that spelled the beginning of the end for the former champion.
The most decorated UFC heavyweight folded from the body shot as Jones pounced on him near the fence.
Referee Herb Dean then jumped in to separate the two, declaring Jones the winner and defending champion.
Jones and Miocic were originally scheduled to headline last year’s Madison Square Garden event at UFC 295 before Jones pulled out with a shoulder injury.
It took 371 days for both men to finally have the legacy fight for heavyweight gold in the Big Apple.
Trump’s appearance only added to the drama of the occasion.
The president-elect made a grand entrance at Madison Square Garden for UFC 309 alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Elon Musk and, of course, Dana White.
He walked out to a roaring standing ovation just ahead of the start of the UFC pay-per-view card.
Trump and White headed to their cageside seats to Kid Rock’s ‘American Bad Ass’.
UFC aired a video package of the former president’s road to reclaiming the White House, calling it, ‘The great comeback in American History,’ while fans stood and applauded.
Trump, wearing a suit and red tie, pumped his fist toward the crowd when the video ended.
The president-elect also briefly danced to the Village People’s ‘YMCA’ just outside the cage. He later again thrust his fist skyward as ‘Takin’ Care of Business’ played.
Besieged by photographers and nearby fans, Trump stood to pose for pictures with White, Musk and other associates in breaks between fights.
Trump even had a brief conversation with country singer Jelly Roll after the pair shook hands.
Others from Trump’s circle also made appearances, including Informal ‘DOGE’ appointee, Vivek Ramaswamy, who shared a photograph of himself alongside Kid Rock.
Donald Trump Jr. and his brother Eric were seen lurking behind their father’s entourage, while Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard as well as Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, were also spotted in the crowd.
However, Trump made a beeline for announcer Joe Rogan, the podcaster who threw his endorsement behind the president-elect days before the election following his appearance on his show.
Trump is a longtime UFC enthusiast and frequent attendee of major fights, something he used to his advantage when trying to connect with male voters.
