Stipe Miocic did not suffer any broken ribs in his TKO loss to Jon Jones at UFC 309.
Former two-time heavyweight champion Miocic (20-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) failed to regain the belt Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York and saw his night – and career – come to an end in violent fashion courtesy of a spinning back kick to the body from Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) in the third round.
Jones, who said he trained the technique for hours every week leading up to the event, uncorked his perfectly placed signature kick to the left side of Miocic’s body and immediately folded him to his knees. “Bones” pounced with a few follow-up punches, but it was over as Miocic crouched over in pain while Jones celebrated.
Although Miocic refused additional medical attention in the octagon then provided a post-fight interview with Joe Rogan where he announced his retirement, rumors have swirled online about broken ribs.
However, Miocic’s manager, Lloyd Pierson of VaynerSports, told MMA Junkie on Monday that Miocic sustained “no broken bones” in the defeat.
At the UFC 309 post-fight news conference, Jones stated that he thinks the spinning back kick is the most powerful kicking technique that can be done in MMA, and said broken ribs are one of the potential consequences if it lands perfectly. That wasn’t the case with Miocic, but it was enough to end the fight.
“I didn’t hit Stipe’s liver. It hit him on the opposite side,” Jones told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “It just sends shockwaves through a person’s body. It can break a rib – it’s just a really powerful shot. So I’m just really proud of landing that shot after so many hours of working it.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.