Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic can cherish numerous individual accolades, but once-in-a-lifetime experiences come and go.
The pair came eye-to-eye for the final time on Friday, before they meet in the octagon for UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, tonight.
Jones is the reigning and defending undisputed UFC heavyweight champion of the world, and is part of a family that consists of sporting royalty.
He picked up the 265 lb strap after submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 last March, in what was his first octagon appearance following a three-year injury-ridden hiatus.
Miocic, meanwhile, hasn’t fought in Dana White’s promotion since being knocked out by Francis Ngannou in March 2021.
He is arguably the most accomplished heavyweight champion of all time, having beaten the likes of Daniel Cormier, Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum during his 13-year UFC career.
Jones and Miocic took to the scales on Friday for official and ceremonial weigh-ins, with the latter taking place in front of a hyped New York crowd.
Miocic weighed in the heavier of the pair, coming in at 248.5 lbs with Jones at 237.5 lbs.
But it wasn’t just the presence of the two UFC heavyweight greats that caught the attention of fans around the world.
“We got a banging card, ladies and gentlemen, and a historic scale,” said UFC commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan as he introduced the event.
“Madison Square Garden has brought us the scale from [Muhammad] Ali [Joe] Frazier, they brought it out from the museum, we got a hell of a card!”
The iconic New York arena provided the scale from the 1971 boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier for the UFC 309 ceremonial weigh-ins.
The fighters at UFC 309 will be stepping on the same scales used for the Fight of the Century: Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali
#UFC309 | Nov 16 | LIVE on TNT Sports Box Office
https://t.co/uXQAMHOrqL pic.twitter.com/Gjw41L4ZdO
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) November 15, 2024
On March 8, 1971, Madison Square Garden hosted Ali vs Frazier, which was billed as ‘The Fight of the Century’ as it was the first time that two undefeated fighters had faced each other for a heavyweight title.
Ali had won the belt from Sonny Liston in 1964 at Miami Beach and successfully defended it, until he had it stripped three years later by boxing authorities for refusing induction into the armed forces.
Fraizer capitalised on Ali’s absence during this time and won two championship belts by knocking out Buster Mathis and Jimmy Ellis, which recognised him as the world champion.
The fight itself went the full 15-round championship distance as Ali was put on his back in the final round—in the only knockdown of the fight—and suffered a gruesome swollen jaw.
In classic Ali fashion, he stayed on his fight despite several terrific blows from Frazier, who ultimately went on to retain the title via unanimous-decision, dealing the Louisville native his first professional loss.
Elsewhere at the UFC 309 ceremonial weigh-ins, Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira hit the scales at exactly the same weight of 155.5 lbs ahead of what is set to be a thrilling five-round co-main event.
Bo Nickal was also present as he prepares for a middleweight clash with Scotland’s Paul Craig, who was seen wearing war paint, which he described as giving him ‘nothing but Scottish pride’.
Former middleweight champion Chris Weidman, who defeated Anderson Silva in consecutive 2013 bouts, was spotted alongside actor and comedian Kevin James, as well as Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson.
