### Bloody Elbow Staff Predicts Jones vs. Miocic Showdown at UFC 309

The spotlight turns to elite-level MMA as Jon Jones prepares to defend his heavyweight title against former champ Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden come Saturday night. This highly anticipated clash has garnered a wave of predictions from fans, fighters, and celebrities alike. Bloody Elbow's staff has now shared their final insights ahead of this monumental legend-versus-legend bout.

Jordan Ellis believes the contest is tighter than many assume. He acknowledges Jon Jones is up against a superior boxer with good defensive wrestling, which might compel him to keep the fight standing. However, Ellis also notes Miocic’s three-year hiatus following a knockout loss, making an upset seem unlikely in his view.

Donagh Corby finds it tough to support Jones, especially considering his recent comments about a potential fight with Tom Aspinall. Drawing parallels to the recent Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul event in Dallas, Corby predicts that Jones will either submit Miocic or finish him with ground and pound within a couple of rounds, emphasizing the significant age and activity gap between the two fighters.

Jamie Theodosi concedes that Miocic has the tools to challenge Jones significantly. However, given Miocic's inactivity, Theodosi foresees a submission victory for Jones, rooted in the assumption that Miocic's time away from the octagon will hinder his performance.

From Oscar Pick's perspective, Jones will need a few rounds to find his rhythm against Miocic. But once Jones has gathered enough information, Pick predicts a stoppage in the third round, pointing to Miocic's age as a critical factor in his anticipated decline during the fight.

James Sweetnam brings attention to Miocic's well-rounded skill set, including his Golden Gloves boxing title and Division One wrestling experience, which could pose a threat to Jones. Yet, Sweetnam also highlights Miocic's age and recent loss to Francis Ngannou, reasons enough to predict that Jones will ultimately retain his title.

Curtis Calhoun forecasts a slow start but believes Jones will begin to dominate by the end of the first round using body kicks to test Miocic's conditioning. By the second round, Calhoun expects Jones to land a devastating liver kick, secure a takedown, and finish the fight with powerful ground-and-pound attacks, seeing Jones take a second-round TKO victory.

As anticipation builds for UFC 309, the consensus leans towards Jon Jones defending his heavyweight title, underscoring his reputation for finding ways to win, regardless of the challenges presented.