UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones paid tribute to President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday night after successfully defending his title at Madison Square Garden.
Following [1] his dominant victory over fellow UFC legend Stipe Miocic, Jones performed Trump’s signature “YMCA” dance and presented the president-elect with his championship belt.
Jon Jones defends the belt
Gives thanks to Jesus Christ
Trump holds the belt
USA chants ring out
God bless America
We’re so back pic.twitter.com/E4Kn2BMLvC [2]
— Doc (@DrBitcoinMD) November 17, 2024 [3]
Jones and Miocic returned to the Octagon after nearly two years of inactivity. Jones showcased his dominance throughout the fight, excelling both on his feet and on the ground.
The fight concluded when Jones landed a spinning back-kick to Miocic’s ribs, forcing the referee to call the bout.
After the victory, Jones celebrated with Trump’s signature dance move, pointing toward the president-elect, who was seated Octagon-side next to X owner Elon Musk.
The @realDonaldTrump [4] viral dance might seem like a minor issue. It’s NOT. It captures a shift in the zeitgeist. It is now cool to openly show support for Trump, for common sense, for reality. The degenerate left (including most academics) have had a complete stronghold on all… https://t.co/3AjIACaduB [5]
— Gad Saad (@GadSaad) November 17, 2024 [6]
In his post-fight interview, Jones acknowledged Jesus Christ and expressed gratitude for Trump’s presence at the event. “Hey, what do you guys think about my version of the Donald Trump? Check it out,” Jones said before leading the crowd in a spirited “USA” chant.
“I’m proud to be a great American champion. I’m proud to be a Christian American champion,” Jones added, drawing cheers from the Madison Square Garden crowd.
We Are So BACK!! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/LeQEoVgtK1 [7]
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) November 17, 2024 [8]
Following the interview, Jones approached Trump, and the two shared a brief conversation.
During their exchange, Jones presented Trump with his championship belt, a gesture of respect and admiration.
Trump has been a long-time supporter of mixed martial arts and played a pivotal role in the UFC’s rise to prominence.
He became the first sitting president to attend a UFC event in 2019 and has remained a regular presence at major UFC pay-per-views.
True to a promise made during a conversation with podcast host Joe Rogan, Trump attended the UFC’s marquee Madison Square Garden card after winning re-election. His arrival at the event drew a thunderous ovation from the crowd.
Trump arrived at the event with a high-profile entourage that included his children, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, conservative commentator Dan Bongino, and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. UFC President Dana White and X owner Elon Musk also joined Trump, with Musk seated next to the president-elect during the fights.
UFC commentators Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier noted the overwhelming reaction from the crowd, with Rogan calling it one of the loudest he had ever heard at a UFC event.
The event at Madison Square Garden marked another chapter in Trump’s close association with the UFC. Jones’ tribute to Trump added to the night’s significance, highlighting the mutual respect between the champion and the president-elect.
As Trump prepares to take office, his presence at the event underscored his continued engagement with sports and popular culture.