The UFC’s return to Madison Square Garden and the bloated title headliner between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic is less than two weeks out. The promotion originally scheduled the fight for UFC 295. However, the injury to Jones led to a year delay. Miocic meets him for the pay-per-view (PPV) heavyweight championship main event at UFC 309 on November 16th.
“Bones” will put his belt on the line for the first time since he won in March 2023. Meanwhile, Stipe Miocic returns to action for the first time in almost four years. A former two-time UFC champ, the real-life firefighter is widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight ever. However, he is a massive underdog, headlining against G.O.A.T. Jon Jones. Miocic, though, is ready.
You know, he’s very, uh, he’s an artist, you know, he knows how to do it….mix it up, he knows how to give a guy guessing…that’s why he’s done so well over the last few years…[ on defeating him] oh of course, yeah, knockout, there’s no question.
Stipe Miocic to Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) for MMAFighting on SBN
Perhaps the reasons for the betting disparity are Miocic’s age and inactivity. The former UFC heavyweight champion, now 42, hasn’t fought since losing his title to Francis Ngannou in March 2021. Jones has been inactive as well if not for UFC 295. The UFC brass has been dropping celebratory media montage promos ahead of UFC 309. The fighter has thus swollen up even more.
But Miocic, 42, does not mind. He admitted knowing what he’s up against. The heavyweight legend also said that he and Jones have a similar moniker of respect for each other and know their mettle. There are also active concerns about this being his retirement fight. After all, only a few fight at 42 years old. Miocic weighed in on that as well.
Stipe Miocic responds to criticism over Jon Jones booking and retiring rumors
Don’t expect Stipe Miocic to lose sleep over criticism that he’s getting a fight with Jon Jones at UFC 309 after over three years away. There have been many talks about stalling the state of the division with an interim champ present. But Miocic is not to blame for those.
Miocic is well aware of the task he’s taking on with a fight against Jones after such a long lay-off. But don’t expect him to lie down and play dead just because some loud voices in the sport say so. The Cleveland native admits that there was a time when he might have been bothered by hearing that. But there are bigger fish. For one, lose or draw, this could be a historic first-ever double retirement at UFC 309.
I don’t listen to anything on the outside, …I used to when I was younger, when I started I was like why would you say that? How dare you? I was real sensitive. I literally stopped caring…I think every fight, I’m always preparing for my last one, …I love what I do and it’s fun. So we’ll see but right now my task at hand is Jon. That’s all I care about.
Stipe Miocic further said
That said, Miocic clearly envisions a victory at the pay-per-view (PPV) title header. He couldn’t imagine a better way to end his career than becoming the first legitimate Jon Jones victor. Come UFC 309, it remains to be seen if he can stand tall to that.
