Jon Jones is being urged to consider giving up his UFC Heavyweight title to make a long-awaited fight with Stipe Miocic a reality.
The UFC’s heavyweight division witnessed a significant shift towards the end of 2023. Renowned MMA fighter Jon Jones made a comeback after a three-year break and a stint at Light Heavyweight at UFC 285 in March 2023. In his comeback match, he triumphed over Ciryl Gane with a first-round guillotine choke to secure the vacant undisputed title following former champion Francis Ngannou‘s departure from the promotion earlier that year to pursue a boxing career with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Jones, aged 35, was slated to defend his title against former two-time champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 in November 2023. Miocic, aged 41, has been inactive since losing the title to Ngannou in March 2021. However, due to Jones’s injury, an interim title was established, with Tom Aspinall being crowned as the interim champion. Aspinall stepped in for the scheduled fight at UFC 295, replacing Sergei Pavlovich by handing him a knockout loss and now finds himself playing second fiddle to Miocic, despite holding the interim title.
Expressing his eagerness, Miocic said on the JAXXON PODCAST, “Tom is a great champion. He’s tough and hungry. But what I really want is to fight Jon Jones.
“I don’t care about the title. I just want to fight Jon Jones one-on-one,” he asserted. “I won’t allow him to dictate the terms of our fight. If you let your opponent take control of the fight, you’re done for. You’re finished.”
Jones has teased the idea of facing Light Heavyweight champion Alex Pereira rather than Aspinall. Nevertheless, Miocic remains resolute in his determination to square off against Jones and foresees their bout happening around the originally planned timeframe.
Anticipating his opportunity, Miocic asserted, “I expect to be next in line. I’ll be waiting for that fight. I don’t mind the timing; I just want that fight.
“The UFC mentioned July, but that time has passed. I’m thinking maybe November in New York,” he concluded.
