Jon Jones calls himself a 'Christian American' and chants 'USA!' for Donald Trump after KO win at UFC 309

Jon Jones got into the patriotic tone aft Saturday's knockout win implicit Stipe Miocic with a peculiar connection for Donald Trump.

Jones and Trump shook hands and capped a combat nighttime charged with authorities arsenic overmuch arsenic punches wrong a raucous Madison Square Garden wherever 'USA!' chants echoed done the arena. 

'A big, large convey you to President Donald Trump for being present tonight,' Jones said wrong the cage earlier presenting Trump with the loop and imitating the President-elect's funny robot dance. 'I'm arrogant to beryllium a large American champion. I'm arrogant to beryllium a Christian-American champion.'

The notation of Jones' religion struck a chord with the crowd, which grew louder successful that moment. 

It was besides good received with Trump supporters online. 

'An American Christian Champion!' 1 pistillate wrote connected X. 'The tides are turning. God Bless America.'

Another instrumentality added: 'This is what a taste antagonistic gyration looks like. UFC fights and shot games transforming into spontaneous Trump rallies. Amazing.' 

Jones dominated astatine UFC's fourth-highest grossing lawsuit of each clip - topping $16.6 cardinal - with Elon Musk, picked by Trump to pb a caller Department of Government Efficiency, and Robert Kennedy Jr., Trump's prime to pb the Department of Health and Human Services successful his incoming medication besides successful the house.

White aboriginal captioned a photograph helium posted connected societal media 'the boys' that featured him with Trump, Kid Rock and Musk. Trump pumped a fist during an occasional outbreak of 'USA! USA!' chants. He was flanked successful his front-row spot by White connected his close and Musk connected his near and politely applauded the combat winners.

UFC fans wore reddish Trump hats and immoderate waved flags emblazoned with his representation during breaks successful the action.

In a lightweight bout that made each instrumentality from Kid Rock to Jordan Knight to Anthony Kiedis spell chaotic astatine the decorativeness successful the 5th round, Charles Oliveira bushed Michael Chandler via unanimous decision. The combat was a rematch of their May 2021 combat erstwhile Charles Oliveira topped Chandler to triumph the lightweight title. Oliveira staked his assertion to different rubric combat with the win

Trump is choky with White, a narration that dates to UFC's formative years earlier its emergence into a billion-dollar promotion. New Jersey was 1 of the archetypal states that embraced UFC and White has agelong credited fights astatine the Trump Taj Mahal for helping the institution turn into a heavyweight successful the sports world. 

White some spoke astatine Trump's petition astatine the Republican National Convention and appeared connected signifier astatine the predetermination party.

UFC fighters spoke this week successful New York with excitement astir earning the accidental to combat successful beforehand of Trump.

'To spot Dana up connected signifier astatine the election, I consciousness similar that infinitesimal conscionable elevated the full sport,' Jones said. 'Americans, radical from astir the satellite were like, who's the bald-headed dude talking? That represents each of us.'

Bo Nickal topped Paul Craig by unanimous determination successful a welterweight fight, past crouched to talk to Trump.

'I showed him my play swing, asked him however it looked,' Nickal said. 'He said it needs work.'

Trump threw his arms unfastened erstwhile helium spotted UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan. Trump and Rogan embraced and shared a fewer words earlier the opening bout of the main card.

Trump sat up of the predetermination for a three-hour interrogation connected Rogan's podcast. Rogan helped promote connected the podcast immoderate of Trump's mendacious claims astir voting, predetermination fraud and his nonaccomplishment successful the 2020 statesmanlike election.

Rogan endorsed Trump for president.

Donald Jr. and Eric Trump, and House Speaker Mike Johnson besides attended.