Brandon Gibson views the upcoming UFC 309 event as a potential retirement fight for Jon Jones. On November 16, Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) returns to the Madison Square Garden in New York to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC). Even though Gibson maintains that Jones is currently in the best shape of his life, he acknowledges that this match could very well be the closing chapter of his career.
During an interview with 'From The Stands,' Gibson explained his perspective, stating that combat sports can be merciless to aging fighters. Because of this, he typically advises his athletes to step away before they are forced to. He believes that among all fighters, Jon Jones has most certainly earned the privilege of choosing his own departure date. Gibson remains confident that Jones is far from burnt out, citing the high-level skills he witnesses in the gym daily.
Gibson expressed amazement at how Jones has adapted to the heavyweight division, suggesting he's currently better than he's ever been. He recalled the fight against Ciryl Gane as a transition from light heavyweight to heavyweight—a massive jump in size—and noted that seeing Jones fully acclimated to the heavier weight class is incredible. While he believes Jones could continue dominating the elite for years, he also feels that if Jon decides to retire to focus on his family and future projects, he has more than earned that right.
Following the stunning first-round submission of Gane at UFC 285, it's a tall order for Jones to top that debut, but Gibson is confident he'll dismantle Miocic with style. He believes that Jones' current technical proficiency, strategy, and overall game plan are at an all-time high, predicting that November 16 will showcase the most dominant performance of Jones' entire career.
In other news, Nassourdine Imavov is pushing back against Brendan Allen, claiming that Allen isn't in a position to be making demands. The two middleweights (Imavov 14-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC; Allen 24-5 MMA, 12-2 UFC) are set to clash at the Accor Arena in Paris on September 28. Tensions rose when Allen initially suggested he wouldn't travel to France unless it was for a major event, and later claimed Imavov dodged a five-round fight. Imavov clarified that a five-round bout was never part of the agreement and expressed confusion over Allen's requests.
Imavov told reporters that while Allen may have wanted specific terms, it ultimately doesn't matter because he holds the advantage in terms of ranking and public profile. 'He has nothing to claim,' the 28-year-old Frenchman remarked, noting that Allen is coming into his home city for a contract that specifies three rounds, though he added that he wouldn't be afraid of a five-round fight regardless.
To prove his flexibility, Imavov mentioned that his previous fight against Jared was originally slated for three rounds, but he stepped up to a five-round main event with only two weeks' notice without hesitation. Looking ahead, if he beats Allen, Imavov is eyeing a clash with former champion Israel Adesanya, noting that the media and fans seem excited about the matchup because their contrasting styles would make for a compelling fight.
Meanwhile, Brendan Allen is looking to keep his impressive seven-fight winning streak alive this Saturday. Speaking to MMA Junkie, Allen noted that a victory over Imavov—particularly a finish within three rounds in the opponent's hometown—would essentially leave him with only one remaining goal: fighting for the world title.