The long-awaited heavyweight title clash between Stipe Miocic and undisputed titleholder Jon Jones is headed back to MSG.
After ‘Bones’ picked up the vacant heavyweight crown with a two-minute submission victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, he was set for a defense against the division’s consensus GOAT eight months later at UFC 295 inside the world’s most famous arena — Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately, Jones suffered a pectoral muscle a few weeks ahead of fight night.
Jones recently returned to training full-time, but according to Miocic, it sounds like we’ll be waiting at least another six months before we see the two combat sports icons step inside the Octagon.
“We were talking about July, but that’s passed so we’re thinking more like November again in New York,” Miocic told Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson on a recent episode of the JAXXON podcast.
“Tom’s a good champion, great champion,” Miocic said. “He’s tough. Up-and-coming like, not up-and-coming, but young and hungry. We’ll get to that road when we have to but I want Jon Jones.
“I don’t care about the title. I just want to fight Jon Jones. It can be just me and him fighting,” he concluded. “Just don’t let him dictate what he wants [in our match up]. Any fight, not just Jon Jones. Don’t let them dictate what they want to do. You let them do what they want then that’s the end of the road for you. You’re f—ked.”
With much talk surrounding this fight being the last for Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, the former two-time titleholder was asked if this would be the final walk in his illustrious career.
“Well see,” Miocic said. “I think I’m done after every fight since my first fight. I’m like, ‘Do I really wanna do this?’ and then here I am again.”
Jon Jones Remains Steadfast on Stipe Miocic Fight Despite Growing Criticism
While most fight fans expect Miocic to retire following his fight with Jones — he is 41-year-old after all — many are frustrated by Jones’ rumored retirement plans despite having an interim champion to contend with once he wraps things up with the Cleveland native.
“I was talking about retirement after Stipe way before there was an intern champion announced,” Jones wrote on X. “I would literally be in the same exact position if Sergei would had one. I love how the UK have convinced themselves I’m afraid of their intern champion, opens me up to a whole new fan base. They all know who the actual champion is.”
I was talking about retirement after Stipe way before there was an intern champion announced. I would literally be in the same exact position if Sergei would had one. I love how the UK have convinced themselves I’m afraid of their intern champion,opens me up to a whole new fan…
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 9, 2024
As for fans clamoring for ‘Bones’ to throw his fight with Miocic aside to do the right thing and face interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall next, I’m afraid we’ve got some bad news.
“I’m in the middle of a pretty clear decision… stick to exact and original plans, and fight the man with all the accolades,” Jones added in a follow-up post. “Or, completely disregard all of the Stipe training I’ve put in and fight another potential hype train that may not even be around in three years.
“I am not changing my plans for anyone. Stipe is over there as the best heavyweight ever working his ass off. I’m gonna give that man what he wants, and I’m going to claim another head. Whatever comes next comes next.”
I’m in the middle of a pretty clear decision… stick to exact and original plans, and fight the man with all the accolades. Or, completely disregard all of the Stipe training I’ve put in and fight another potential hype train that may not even be around in three years.
I am not…— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 9, 2024
Jones has mentioned possibly fighting Light Heavyweight champion Alex Pereira instead of Aspinall. But Miocic isn’t budging, expecting his matchup with “Bones” to happen around the same time as before.
Clearly, Jones has made his decision and nobody, including UFC CEO Dana White, is going to tell him otherwise.
