Trump Attends UFC 309 With Dana White
President-elect Donald Trump attended UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024, as Michael Chandler had predicted before the event. Trump entered with UFC CEO Dana White, received a standing ovation and watched cageside. The night also included a heavyweight title defense by Jon Jones and a loss for Chandler in the co-main event.
Chandler’s prediction came true
Before the election, Chandler said Trump had told him he would attend UFC 309 if he won. Trump did attend after winning the 2024 election, walking into the arena alongside White and sitting near the Octagon with members of his entourage. The Associated Press reported a standing ovation when he arrived.
Jones retained the heavyweight title
In the main event, Jones stopped Stipe Miocic by TKO at 4:29 of Round 3, retaining the UFC heavyweight championship. After the fight, Jones thanked Trump and handed him the title belt. Chandler’s own fight ended in a unanimous decision loss to Charles Oliveira.
Sources: Associated Press report on Trump’s attendance; UFC 309 official results and scorecards; TMZ report on Jones’s post-fight interaction with Trump; Chandler’s pre-fight prediction.
