After more than 20 months of buildup, Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic had their first ever face-to-face. They meet in a holistically historic heavyweight title fight pay-per-view (PPV) bill soon. However, aggressor “Bones” made it awkward during Thursday’s UFC 309 pre-fight Official Media Day conference.
After answering questions from the media, reigning 265-pound champ Jon Jones approached and stared down Miocic. The former titleholder extended to shake on it, but Jones ignored it, creating a tense moment. It’d be weird out of context, but the champ had some pent-up crass fury to let out.
Don’t talk about my kids…
Jon Jones during UFC 309 Media Day pre-fight press conference
Jones told a reporter during the UFC 309 press conference that his upcoming fight with Miocic is more personal. That’s because “Bones” reportedly saw a video of Miocic claiming that “his kids will never see him as an a-hole” and Miocic calling him a “bi*ch” during the UFC 309 “Countdown” Show. However, former roost-ruler Miocic was confused and denied saying anything on all those lines.
JONES vs MIOCIC! #UFC309 is LIVE SATURDAY on @ESPNPlus PPV! pic.twitter.com/MhgiVGz4r1
— danawhite (@danawhite) November 14, 2024
The Strong Style Fight Team heavyweight did pull a UFC 297 pre-fight Dricus Du Plessis, saying “Bones” should be able to digest a few disses. That is, if the ever-confident God’s warrior is always ready to dish them out. With six other PPV main card fighters on hand, Jones simply went ballistic. Is it really more personal now? Or is this a tad more insurance to boost a reason to avoid unification and justify this billing?
Jon Jones says Stipe Miocic fight at UFC 309 ‘very personal’ now
When the UFC 309 press conference shot off at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT, 10 fighters from the main card made the walk. Big names like Charles Oliveira, Bo Nickal, Michael Chandler, and so on were present. The historic heavyweight title fight setup also meant people were looking forward to Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic.
The buildup to their return has been bland despite them being a pair of G.O.A.T./best consensus heavyweights present. A 42-year-old returning, ranking #8 on the listings, to face a brand fighter who touts his legacy every other year is disputable. But nobody had “Bones” going berserker on a personal note on their bingo cards!
Everyone likes first responders, and I actually respect men and women in the armed forces and law enforcement, things like that, so I made it a point to try to be very respectful …First scenario, he said ‘my kids will never look at me like I’m an a**hole.’ That was a direct attack at me and my family and my relationship with my kids. Second attack was him calling me a bi*ch. So the respect is a little bit out the window…It’s very personal to me, yes
Jon Jones at UFC 309 pre-fight conference fighter interviews
🤬 Jon Jones says it’s personal now between him and Stipe after “b*tch” comments and some other things that Stipe said.
🎥 @ufc pic.twitter.com/faoakx0Cnd— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) November 14, 2024
Miocic was at a loss for words in response to Jones’ comments. He said when Jones claimed he would beat him in front of a sellout crowd in New York and the world, he told him, “Bring it on, bi*ch.” Stipe Miocic also apologized for the heated flow. How that made things so personal is beyond Miocic.
But then again, he does not care. Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) returns from a more than 20-month layoff for his heavyweight maiden defense. Miocic looks to get back what is his and amp the stakes. Stakes that are present in every such fight. So in all technicality, every ounce of every fight is personal for him. Come this weekend; he means to live up to it.
