MMA News

Tag: Stipe Miocic

  • Tom Aspinall Tells Jon Jones To Hand Over The Title If He Doesn’t Want To Fight Him After UFC 304 Win

    Tom Aspinall Tells Jon Jones To Hand Over The Title If He Doesn’t Want To Fight Him After UFC 304 Win

    Tom Aspinall felt that he was in the fight of his life when he stepped in the Octagon for his UFC 304 interim heavyweight championship co-main event against Curtis Blaydes.

    The Brit is two years removed from his devastating MCL tear the first time he faced “Razor” in England, and it was his first fight since winning the interim belt at New York’s Madison Square Garden last November.

    And despite a day that he described as the longest of his life, with nerves going throughout his body, Aspinall got the job done in just 60 seconds, finishing Blaydes to retain the championship.

    Though Aspinall told Megan Olivi of ESPN MMA that it felt like a homecoming redemption moment after all he’s been through, he made sure to give a ton of respect to Blaydes.

    “Curtis is a great wrestler, but he’s also got great hands. He’s a great MMA fighter,” Aspinall said. “The guy’s been in the top five since before I was in the UFC. He’s a veteran. There is a lot of emphasis on his wrestling because not a lot of guys in the heavyweight division can wrestle well, but he’s an MMA fighter, so I was expecting everything.

    “I’ve got a lot of respect for Curtis, and I want to get in and out as quick as possible without anyone getting hurt. That’s my plan. I hope Curtis is OK.”

    ‘You Can’t Leave Me Out’ – Tom Aspinall Awaits Jon Jones Or Stipe Miocic To Unify Heavyweight Championship

    Following the win, Aspinall had a callout of UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones — a fight that many have been clamoring to see over Jones vs. Stipe Miocic. The interim champ commented about having a conversation with UFC CEO Dana White, implying the chance that plans could change.

    White, however, stated at the UFC 304 post-fight press conference that the plan is still to go with Jones vs. Miocic. However, he appeared to insinuate that Aspinall will be assigned as the backup fighter in case Jones vs. Miocic falls through again.

    Aspinall told Olivi that the plan is to fight the winner of Jones vs. Miocic, but he urged “Bones” to hand the belt over if he doesn’t want the fight.

    “I’ll wait…that’s one worth waiting for,” Aspinall said. “If Jon Jones doesn’t want to do it, OK. Just hand me over the title. I’ll take it, no problem. But that’s the fight I want. It’s the right fight to do. I understand that’s a huge fight for the UFC and the company — Stipe vs. Jon Jones. But, c’mon, you can’t leave me out.”

    Jones vs. Miocic was scheduled to headline UFC 295 last November before Jones tore his pec, which led to the fight where Aspinall defeated Sergei Pavlovich to become interim champion.

    Jones defeated Ciryl Gane to win the then-vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285 following Francis Ngannou’s departure from the promotion. Miocic, meanwhile, has not fought since dropping the heavyweight title to Ngannou at UFC 260.

    Rumors, reports, and even Jones himself have stated the plan is for Jones vs. Miocic to headline a Madison Square Garden PPV card in November. Those event plans, however, have not been confirmed by the UFC and have been left murky with a concert series taking place at the venue during UFC 309’s original target date of November 9.

  • Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic Date Speculated: When Could The UFC Heavyweight Champion Return?

    Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic Date Speculated: When Could The UFC Heavyweight Champion Return?

    Jon Jones grabbed the UFC heavyweight title by beating Ciryl Gane in March 2023. His first defense will be against Stipe Miocic and then, the winner will fight the winner of Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes.

    The fight with Miocic was originally scheduled for November 11, 2023. However, a shoulder injury forced the champ to pull out and stay out of action for over six months. He’s fit and back at the gym now but a new date for the bout is yet to be announced.

    Here’s when fans can expect Jones to finally fight Miocic and proceed to unify the UFC heavyweight championship…

    When Will Jon Jones Fight Stipe Miocic?

    Although official confirmation from the UFC is pending, Jones will most likely fight Miocic on November 9, 2024, at UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden, New York. The date has been teased by the champion himself through a post on Instagram with this caption:

    “The red corner, my office. #Nov9th.”

    The official UFC schedule is only updated till UFC 308 which takes place on October 26. So, it won’t be a stretch to assume that November 9 is the planned date for UFC 309 and the main event will feature “Bones” and the former UFC heavyweight kingpin.

    Will Jon Jones Retire From The UFC After Fighting Stipe Miocic?

    Jones has repeatedly discussed retiring from the UFC. He initially seemed certain about hanging up the gloves after the Miocic fight. However, in recent tweets, he’s claimed to make the decision based on his performance and the available options at the time.

    Dana White has confirmed that the winner of Aspinall vs. Blaydes will fight the winner of Jones vs. Miiocic. These plans could undeniably change if Alex Pereira moves up for a super fight in the UFC heavyweight division.

    READ MORE: King Green Explains His Issues With UFC 304 Opponent Paddy Pimblett: ‘Ariel Doesn’t Even Pay Conor, Why Would He Pay You?!’ 

  • Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Names Who Has The Best Chance To Beat Jon Jones Out Of Stipe Miocic, Tom Aspinall, & Alex Pereira

    Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Names Who Has The Best Chance To Beat Jon Jones Out Of Stipe Miocic, Tom Aspinall, & Alex Pereira

    Jon Jones has found himself arguing with fans on social media fairly regularly during his recovery process before he hopes to return later this year.

    The UFC heavyweight champion is expected to face former champ Stipe Miocic after their fight at UFC 295 was cancelled due to Jones’ injury.

    In the meantime, many fans believe that his next opponent should instead be Tom Aspinall, who won the interim title and will now be defending it at UFC 304 later this month.

    Though the case has been made for Aspinall, Alex Pereira also became a part of the conversation following another dominant performance from the light heavyweight champion at UFC 303.

    A former UFC champion at both heavyweight and light heavyweight believes that Jones’ toughest test is also likely to be his next one.

    Randy Couture Says Experienced Stipe Miocic Has The Best Chance Of Beating Jon Jones Right Now

    In a recent interview with InsideFighting, Randy Couture gave his take on who presents the biggest challenge to Jones and the heavyweight title right now.

    Despite giving Aspinall and Pereira their dues, Couture pointed out how their experience competing at the top of the heavyweight division does leave a few question marks next to both men in potential match-ups with “Bones”.

    With that in mind, “The Natural” sided with the man that many believe to be the best UFC heavyweight of all time, former champion Miocic.

    It has been three years since Miocic last competed inside the Octagon but Couture chose to go with the tried and tested competitor at this current time.

    “I think right now, because of experience, Stipe’s probably got the best shot at beating Jon. Aspinall has that raw physical ability and is still green enough and young enough that he’s going to be tough for Jon to deal with, especially if Jon waits any longer because he’s getting stronger and stronger each time out and I think the longer Jon waits, the better he’s going to be, he’s going to be in full stride by the time that fight happens so it’s interesting. Pereira has some things to prove, moving up is no easy task.

    “It’s one thing to cut weight and move down and there’s still some questions there even but moving up and dealing with the bigger guys, and Jon’s answered that question already dealing with the bigger guys, it’s a different thing… certainly has all the ability in the world, Pereira does, and he’s a hell of a competitor and he’s just demonstrated that again. I think anybody’s crazy if they don’t think you better strap them on if you’re stepping in there with him because he’s gonna bring it.”

    Read also: Alistair Overeem Favors Jon Jones To Beat Tom Aspinall But Names 50-50 Matchup For Him: ‘That Was The Fight To Make…’

  • Chael Sonnen Explains Why Stipe Miocic Is ‘Primed’ To Defeat Jon Jones: ‘He Realized I Gotta Be More Man…’

    Chael Sonnen Explains Why Stipe Miocic Is ‘Primed’ To Defeat Jon Jones: ‘He Realized I Gotta Be More Man…’

    Chael Sonnen recently expressed his belief that Stipe Miocic has the upper hand in his potential fight against Jon Jones.

    The much-anticipated clash between Miocic and reigning heavyweight champion Jones has been the talk of the MMA world since it was first announced. The excitement reached a fever pitch, only to be dashed last October when “Bones” tore his pectoral muscle just two weeks before their scheduled bout at UFC 295 in November 2023.

    The widespread anticipation is that the long-overdue bout will headline the UFC’s return to Madison Square Garden this November. Jones has also fueled the excitement with his continuous hints, yet the MMA promotion has not officially confirmed the event.

    Miocic last competed at UFC 260 in March 2021, where he suffered a second-round knockout defeat in a rematch against former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Although he has been absent from the Octagon for over three years, Sonnen believes the 41-year-old Ohio native could still pull off a stunning upset against Jones if they were to fight…

    Sonnen Suggests Miocic’s Apparent Bulk Could Aid in Jones Fight

    During a recent episode of ESPN’s Good Guy / Bad Guy with Daniel Cormier, Sonnen delved into a discussion about fighters who have the potential to dethrone reigning UFC champions by the year’s end.

    “The Bad Guy” expressed confidence in Miocic’s ability to defeat Jones in their potential matchup. Sonnen revealed that he recently spoke with the former longtime heavyweight champion about his current walk-around weight, and Miocic disclosed he’s around 252 pounds.

    The former middleweight title challenger told “DC” that Miocic’s added muscle mass could significantly enhance his power, a game-changing factor in a showdown with Jones.

    “If Stipe does in fact come in at 252 [pounds], that’s very different,” Sonnen said. “The first time you [Cormier] fought him, he was 246, and the second time you fought him, he was 233… But after he lost to Francis, Stipe thought that he was going to draw into a trilogy against Francis, and he realized I got to be a bigger man and got to have more size on me.”

    “He buckled down and focused on the same thing that Jon Jones did to gain weight. Stipe did the same thing; he added the right kind of weight, and that’s going to change the perception of power ability for takedowns. Stipe is going to show up at Madison Square Garden, and he is primed to get a victory.”

    Despite his extended hiatus, Miocic has been unwavering in his desire to face “Bones” in his comeback fight, expressing his willingness to wait for the opportunity. He’s recently made it clear that if the Jones bout doesn’t materialize, he’s prepared to retire.

  • Chael Sonnen Laughs Off Daniel Cormier’s Claim About Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: ‘Is He Drunk?!’

    Chael Sonnen Laughs Off Daniel Cormier’s Claim About Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: ‘Is He Drunk?!’

    UFC legend Chael Sonnen could not disagree more with a recent opinion Daniel Cormier shared about the heavyweight title picture.

    The main throne is currently occupied by Jon Jones, who collected the then-vacant belt with a submission of Ciryl Gane in his divisional debut last March. Next to him, however, sits an interim champ in the form of Tom Aspinall.

    The Manchester, England, native captured that gold after Jones’ scheduled defense against Stipe Miocic last November was canceled due to an injury. With Aspinall capitalizing by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich, many initially expected Jones to meet the Brit in a unification showdown upon his return from the sidelines.

    But both the Rochester native and the UFC have other plans. While Aspinall gears up to defend his interim strap against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 on July 27, Jones is expected to welcome Miocic back to the cage in November.

    That situation has left many in the community — fighters, fans, and pundits — less than pleased, with plenty expressing a lack of interest in the Miocic fight and disdain at the champ’s dismissal of his interim counterpart.

    According to Cormier, a former heavyweight titleholder himself, those voices will only get louder should Aspinall run through Blaydes in Manchester, so much so that the UFC could be forced into a change.

    Sonnen To Cormier: ‘Did You Hurt Your Head? Fall Off A Ladder?’

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reacted to Cormier’s take with utter bemusement.

    “The Bad Guy” insisted that no manner of victory for Aspinall could outdo his title-winning performance against Pavlovich last November. And seeing that such a display on that occasion did little to budge Jones and the UFC from their plans, Sonnen laughed off the suggestion a win over Blaydes could.

    “Is he (Cormier) drunk? Did he hurt his head? Did he fall off a ladder or something like this? Is he working on a comedy routine? I ask because he thinks that Tom Aspinall, with a proper victory, could take Stipe’s fight against Jon Jones away,” Sonnen said. “He can’t be serious, right?! He said with a proper performance, gotta be an absolute drubbing…Aspinall’s gotta go out there in front of his people and whip Curtis Blaydes, and there could be such an uprising by you, the crowd, that UFC would have no choice but to give Tom the fight.

    “There’s no way he believes that, right? Sometimes you say things and it’s on accident. In a normal situation you’d cut, edit that out, give me another shot. But, you’re live. And you look back and go, ‘That’s not at all what I meant.’ I’m assuming that’s what happened here,” Sonnen continued. “There’s nothing that can be done to Curtis Blaydes that would be worse than what happened to Sergei. And there is no amount of eyes on this match that is going to have the focus and the interest, thus making a victory potentially by Tom more incredible. To act as though that could interfere with a contractual agreement on a fight…what in the blue hell are you talking about?!”

    Nevertheless, Aspinall will hope to give Cormier’s theory the chance to play out by delivering a devastatingly dominant performance in his rematch against Blaydes later this month on home soil.

    The interim heavyweight title will be contested in the first of two championship fights at UFC 304, with Leon Edwards subsequently defending his welterweight belt against Belal Muhammad in the main event.

  • Dustin Poirier Wishes UFC Would Bypass Stipe Miocic For ‘Blockbuster’ Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira Fight 

    Dustin Poirier Wishes UFC Would Bypass Stipe Miocic For ‘Blockbuster’ Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira Fight 

    We can add former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier to the list of those who disagree with Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic being the next title fight at heavyweight.

    Not many topics have been debated in 2024 quite like the championship conversation in the UFC’s heavyweight division, which currently boasts two champions, only one of which is keen on fighting the other.

    After an injury forced Jones out of his planned defense against Miocic at Madison Square Garden last November, Tom Aspinall stepped up on short notice to capture the interim gold at the expense of Sergei Pavlovich.

    While that would usually lead to a unification showdown, Jones has remained firm on Miocic being his next fight despite pushback from Aspinall, as well as many fighters, fans, and pundits.

    In the meantime, Aspinall will put his belt on the line in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in Manchester this month. The build-up to that July 27 bout will no doubt feature Jones’ name heavily and talk of Aspinall making one last bid to jump ahead of Miocic.

    According to one UFC star, however, a third option should be the leading candidate upon Jones’ comeback form injury…

    Poirier: It’s The ‘Perfect Time’ For Jones vs. Pereira

    During a recent in-studio appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Poirier gave his take on the current state of the heavyweight division and the ongoing debate surrounding who should be Jones’ next challenger.

    While most of the opposition to Miocic receiving a shot over three years on from his knockout loss to Francis Ngannou has placed Aspinall in the position instead, “The Diamond” wants to see Alex Pereira shoot for two-division glory.

    “Stipe’s been out a good bit. Stipe could come back and be a completely different person,” Poirier said. “Aspinall’s obviously legit; he’s the interim world champion, he’s beat some good guys. But he doesn’t have the aura that Alex and Jones have. … (Pereira’s) starting to get that aura, like a Fedor (Emelianenko) had or an Anderson (Silva) had.

    “It’s the perfect time for it. I would (do it now). Yeah, (bypass the Miocic fight),” Poirier continued. “It’s bigger! It’s a blockbuster, bro. … And in the light heavyweight division, who’s he gonna fight? Ankalaev? Nothing against Ankalaev, but I’m not excited (by that). At the point he’s at in his career, he’s a superstar. I want to see him vs. Jones at heavyweight.”

    Jones himself has noted Pereira as a future option and suggested it sits above interim champ Aspinall in terms of intrigue.

    But just like his division’s other titleholder, “Bones” has refused to budge from Miocic in order to accommodate a super fight with Pereira toward the end of 2024.

  • Daniel Cormier: Tom Aspinall Can Create ‘Fan Uprising’ Against Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic At UFC 304

    Daniel Cormier: Tom Aspinall Can Create ‘Fan Uprising’ Against Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic At UFC 304

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier still sees a way for Tom Aspinall to stake his claim for the next shot at Jon Jones.

    Aspinall appeared to put himself in line for an inevitable dream showdown with Jones after capturing the interim heavyweight gold at UFC 295 last November. He did so by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in a matchup that replaced the original title fight between “Bones” and Stipe Miocic.

    Despite the need for a unification fight, both Jones and the powers that be have been insistent on the Miocic bout being kept together for the back end of 2024.

    The Englishman and a large portion of the MMA community have frequently bemoaned that decision. With minds seemingly made up, Aspinall is focusing his energy elsewhere as he gears up to defend his interim belt in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes on home soil at UFC 304 this month.

    But when it comes to pipping Miocic to the post and sharing the Octagon with Jones next, “DC” says hope is not completely lost…

    Cormier: Demolition Of Blaydes Could Force UFC Into Jones vs. Aspinall

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Cormier gave his latest thoughts on the state of the title picture in the division he formerly ruled over.

    While both Jones and the UFC have remained steadfast on rearranging the Miocic fight for the promotion’s next visit to Madison Square Garden in November, “DC” doesn’t believe everything is set in stone just yet.

    For that to happen. Cormier thinks UFC 304 will have to pass by without an emphatic and dominant display from the interim titleholder.

    “I can’t wait to get to Manchester. Dude, could you imagine if Tom Aspinall just washes out Curtis Blaydes? Then the firestorm that will start to gather for him to fight Jones — or if Curtis Blaydes just demolishes Tom Aspinall? It would be crazy,” Cormier said. “Here’s the difference, though: for there to truly be an uprising, it would have to be Aspinall destroying Blaydes.

    “You’ve seen Curtis Blaydes lose before. So people would think, ‘Oh, he beat Tom Aspinall, but we’ve seen him get beat by Francis and lose to other guys.’ … But if Aspinall goes through Blaydes in the way he did Sergei, and he’s only lost because of that injury default, people would lose their minds almost insisting that he and Jones fight,” Cormier continued. “If Tom Aspinall can get through this fight and he’s clean and he looks dominant, there may be such a fan uprising that the UFC may be forced to make Jones vs. Aspinall. I don’t know what that would do for my man Stipe.”

    Judging by his recent remarks, Jones evidently doesn’t see much chance of a demolition job in Manchester.

    In addition to backing Blaydes to get the job done on July 27, the Rochester native suggested “Razor” was piecing Aspinall up in their 2022 UFC Fight Night headliner. That’s despite the bout lasting just 15 seconds.

    Jones has also pointed to reigning light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira as a more intriguing option than Aspinall, claiming only UK fans would rather see him fight the interim champ.

  • Stipe Miocic Rejects Claim From ‘Crying’ Fans That He’s Holding Up The Heavyweight Division: ‘The UFC Can Pick Who They Want!’

    Stipe Miocic Rejects Claim From ‘Crying’ Fans That He’s Holding Up The Heavyweight Division: ‘The UFC Can Pick Who They Want!’

    As Tom Aspinall gets ready to defend the interim UFC heavyweight championship against Curtis Blaydes later this month at UFC 304, fight fans will have to remain patient before seeing the actual heavyweight title on the line again.

    That’s because the expectation is for Jon Jones to defend the title against former two-time champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of the UFC’s annual November pay-per-view card at New York’s Madison Square Garden. This had been the plan for UFC 295 last year until Jones suffered a torn pectoral tendon during training.

    In spite of Aspinall winning the interim belt on this card, however, the seeming desire of the UFC’s to have Jones vs. Miocic at MSG, as well as the pair’s own desire for this fight to happen, resulted in “Bones” not being stripped or vacating the title with his injury — and the UFC’s patience in delaying this fight.

    Fight fans on social media, however, have voiced frustration with the situation. Many have expressed a lack of desire to see Jones vs. Miocic, with many preferring a unification bout between Jones and Aspinall — or a champion vs. champion superfight between Jones and Alex Pereira.

    Miocic Admits He Would ‘Feel The Same Way’ If He Was Aspinall

    In an interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Miocic was asked about the outcry from fans and their impatience or lack of desire for the fight. Miocic’s response was simple — fans need to stop “crying” because this is what he, Jones, and the UFC all want.

    “I get it. I’d feel the same way but I’m not taking anything away from him (Aspinall),” Miocic said. “The UFC can do what they want. It is what it is. There’s only one guy I want to fight, it’s Jon Jones. But at the same time, the UFC can pick who they want.

    “People don’t know this but there were a couple of other times where I was ready to fight and they gave them another guy. What am I supposed to do? I’m not holding up any division like everyone says. I don’t care. Do what you want and stop crying. I’m not saying he’s crying. I’m just saying like fans and stuff like that.”

    Though there has not been an official announcement from the UFC, Miocic confirmed that the plan right now is for him and Jones to face off inside MSG this November.

    Jones has repeatedly mentioned the date November 9 on social media, even though a David Gilmour concert (one in a series) is scheduled for that night at the arena.

    After dominating the light heavyweight division for most of the 2010s, Jones moved up to heavyweight. After a three-year hiatus from the cage, Jones defeated Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 to capture the then-vacant UFC heavyweight championship.

    Miocic, meanwhile, has not fought in the UFC since dropping the heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 in March 2021. With Andrei Arlovski’s recent departure from the promotion, Miocic has not fought anyone on the current UFC roster.

  • MMA News Today: Jon Jones Teases Date For Potential Stipe Miocic Fight, Dan Ige Calls In His Favor With Dana White After Saving UFC 303, & More

    MMA News Today: Jon Jones Teases Date For Potential Stipe Miocic Fight, Dan Ige Calls In His Favor With Dana White After Saving UFC 303, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 4, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Jones says he will return at MSG in November
    • Ige calls to face Garcia
    • 303 winner makes quick turnaround to face Drew Dober

    Jon Jones Says His Return Will Be On November 9 At Madison Square Garden

    In a post on social media, UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones teased a potential date and location for the first defense of his title.

    “Bones” was set to face off with former champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 in November of last year until an injury forced him to withdraw and postpone the fight.

    Jones appears to now be targeting the rescheduled fight for the same month in the originally planned venue, Madison Square Garden in New York.

    He replied to a comment on Instagram where he named November 9 at the iconic venue as the target that he is working towards right now.

    Dan Ige Wants To Fight Ryan Garcia At UFC 306 With No Takedowns Or Weigh-In

    After he stepped up on the day of the fight to save the co-main event of UFC 303, Dana White said that he will try to make it up to Dan Ige.

    Ige didn’t get his hand raised against Diego Lopes this past weekend but his efforts to be a company man didn’t go unnoticed or without reward.

    The featherweight contender posted on social media where he made his request for his next outing with a very bold idea.

    Ige posted that he wants to face the controversial boxing star Ryan Garcia at UFC 306 inside the Sphere with a few extra rules being put in place.

    Garcia responded on social media, so clearly the call out at least caught his attention, that he’s down to compete.

    https://twitter.com/RyanGarcia/status/1808595885770543420

    Jean Silva Set To Make Two-Week Turnaround To Fight Drew Dober In Denver

    Jean Silva delivered one of the stand-out performances at UFC 303 as he stopped Charles Jourdain in the second round.

    Despite missing weight for the fight, the Brazilian is now set to make a remarkable two-week turn-around in order to take on Drew Dober up at lightweight.

    Dober was originally set to face Mike Davis in a significant bout for the 155-pound fan favorite due to him training out of Denver, Colorado where the card will be hosted.

    Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight reported the news that Silva will be looking to pick up his third consecutive win in the UFC after debuting on the first card of 2024.

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Chael Sonnen Doubts Jon Jones’ Theory On Stipe Miocic Training Footage: ‘I Don’t Know A Single Fighter Whose Ego Is Strong Enough…’

    Chael Sonnen Doubts Jon Jones’ Theory On Stipe Miocic Training Footage: ‘I Don’t Know A Single Fighter Whose Ego Is Strong Enough…’

    Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen isn’t buying into Jon Jones’ theory on the training footage recently released by heavyweight legend Stipe Miocic.

    Jones and Miocic are expected to collide toward the end of 2024 with the former’s heavyweight belt on the line. They were originally set to do battle last November at Madison Square Garden but an injury to the champion forced a change of plans.

    Since then, the topic of discussion has been the debate over Jones and the UFC’s insistence on keeping the Miocic matchup together over a unification showdown between “Bones” and interim titleholder Tom Aspinall.

    The backlash to the decision not to have the two champs square off only increased upon the release of some recent training footage from Miocic.

    But while many expressed concern over what they perceived to be a clear decline in speed from the divisional legend, who has not competed in over three years, Jones theorized that Miocic may have been attempting to instil a false sense of confidence into him.

    A former opponent of the reigning champ’s, however, has dismissed that take and put forth an alternative suggestion…

    Sonnen Doubts Miocic Is ‘Trying To Dupe’ Jones

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen assessed the brief clip Miocic posted online, as well as Jones’ comments on it.

    “The Bad Guy” dismissed the idea that Miocic may have been attempting to deceive the champ, claiming there isn’t a single fighter who would willingly release footage that shows their ability in a negative light.

    Instead, Sonnen believes the explanation is more simple — Miocic just wasn’t competing an explosive training drill.

    “Jon Jones isn’t buying what Stipe Miocic is selling as legit training footage on Instagram,” Sonnen said. “Stipe looks a little bit slow… But I didn’t interpret it as he was going full out. I interpreted that he was working on technique… Jon Jones is talking about, ‘Hey man, he’s trying to deceive me, he’s trying to fool me. He looked slow in that video but he wants me to see that. He wants me to see that he’s slowed down so that I can build (a false sense of) confidence.’

    “One thing that I have learned… There is no scenario that I could imagine that Jon could make the video and/or have the decision over said video to be posted to the world or not, and Jon, whether for delusion or strategy, would allow anyone to put a video out that he did not think made him look good,” Sonnen continued. “I don’t think Stipe was trying to dupe anybody… I don’t know a fighter whose little fragile ego would allow a video to go out where they perhaps could be perceived as anything not positive. I don’t know a single fighter whose ego is strong enough to allow a video to go out on social media that made them look anything other than superhuman.”

    As he begins preparation for his return to action, Jones looks set to be answering plenty of questions regarding his decision to focus on Miocic and dismiss his division’s interim champion. 

    “Bones” has frequently addressed the backlash and defended his preference online, and he’s even chose to mock the interim title bout between Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes set for UFC 304 this coming July in Manchester, England.

  • Tai Tuivasa Calls Out Stipe Miocic: “I Think That’s The Fight”

    UFC heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa wants a shot against former UFC champion Stipe Miocic for his next Octagon appearance.

    Tuivasa is arguably the hottest name in the heavyweight division right now. He’s won five fights in a row, all of which ended in a knockout within the first two rounds.

    Tuivasa surged into the top 5 of the UFC heavyweight rankings following a violent knockout of Derrick Lewis at UFC 271. After back-and-forth exchanges, he landed a heavy elbow that sent the UFC knockout leader Lewis collapsing to the canvas.

    Tuivasa could be potentially one win away from a heavyweight title shot, which was unheard of at this point last year. But he wants bigger challenges to earn a shot at the belt in 2022.

    During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Tuivasa called out arguably the greatest heavyweight in UFC history.

    “I just think that that’s the fight,” Tuivasa said. “He’s in front of me. That’s who I’d like to fight just because he’s been around, he’s older and I don’t think he’ll have many more left. I’d like to have a crack at him before he goes. He’s the best heavyweight of all time, so why wouldn’t I want a crack against him? Just like the knockout king [Derrick Lewis].”

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has also alluded to a matchup with Miocic for his heavyweight debut. However, it remains to be seen when Jones will return to the cage in 2022.

    UFC President Dana White put Tuivasa into the heavyweight title picture following his latest win over Lewis. He has also earned big knockouts over the likes of Greg Hardy and Augusto Sakai.

    Do you want to see Tai Tuivasa vs. Stipe Miocic next?

  • White Puts Tuivasa Into HW Picture Alongside Ngannou, Miocic, & Jones

    UFC President Dana White has assessed where heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa sits in the division following his knockout victory over Derrick Lewis.

    At UFC 271 this past weekend, two of the UFC’s hardest hitters and most prolific KO artists collided. On one side was “The Black Beast” Lewis, the promotion’s KO record holder, who was coming off a main event finish against Chris Daukaus in December. Opposite him was the rising “Bam Bam” Tuivasa, who was coming off four consecutive stoppage wins.

    Inside Houston’s Toyota Center, it was the younger and more durable Tuivasa who had his hand raised. After surviving an onslaught against the cage and firing back with his own bombs, the Australian hurt Lewis in the second round before knocking him out with a brutal elbow.

    White Expects Tuivasa To Be “Mixing It Up” With The Best

    Entering 2020, Tuivasa was on a three-fight losing skid following consecutive defeats to Junior dos Santos, Blagoy Ivanov, and Sergey Spivak, and his place in the promotion looked insecure.

    Having rebounded with victories over Stefan Struve and Harry Hunsucker, re-entered the rankings with memorable 2021 KO’s of Greg Hardy and Augusto Sakai, and now joined the elite conversation with a thunderous stoppage against two-time heavyweight title challenger Lewis, the sky appears to be the limit for “Bam Bam.”

    That’s a sentiment that was shared by Dana White at the UFC 271 press conference. When asked where the Aussie’s latest win puts him in the division, the UFC President said he expects Tuivasa to experience a heavy rise up the heavyweight ladder come the next rankings update.

    “Well, you guys are gonna rank him. But yeah, I mean, he should be top three, top five,” said White. “So wherever he shakes out in the rankings, yeah, he’ll be mixing it up with those guys.”

    Indeed, yesterday it was confirmed that Tuivasa is ranked #3 in the heavyweight division. When assessing how the title picture now shapes up, White placed Tuivasa alongside reigning champion Francis Ngannou, consensus heavyweight GOAT Stipe Miocic, and former two-time light heavyweight king Jon Jones.

    “We’ll see here pretty soon how this all plays out: Jones, Stipe, Francis, and Tai now, too.”

    Not bad company is it?

    From his pop classic walkouts to his post-fight shoeys to his brutal KO power, Tuivasa has captured the attention of just about every MMA fan and has grown to be perhaps the only universally loved fighter in the UFC.

    But if his latest win shows the rest of the division anything, it’s that he’s not just an entertainer who likes a beer, he’s a bona fide title contender on the hunt for gold.

    Who would you like to see Tai Tuivasa share the Octagon with next?

  • Former Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic Becomes Full-Time Firefighter

    Amid rumors of returning to the Octagon, Westlake Fire Department in Ohio swore in former UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic as a full-time Firefighter.

    The ceremony took place on February 15, after Miocic and two others completed their testing.

    While being one of the greatest heavyweight contenders, Miocic doubled as a part-time firefighter. He worked for the Valley View Fire Department for a number of years and now works for the Fire Department in Westlake.

    Stipe Miocic
    Stipe Miocic, Photo Credit: Jamie Meklemburg

    The inauguration of this new role comes just a few months after he dismissed rumors of going into retirement.

    But as a full-time firefighter, it leaves room to ponder when Miocic will make his return to the Octagon.

    Although his last fight ended in a round 2 knockout, Micoc is not discouraged. After his championship loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260, he made it clear he still has a lot of fight in him.

    Earlier in the month, and in the past, Jon “Bones” Jones flirted with the idea of a match between him and Miocic. Stipe always agreed to the matchup, however, nothing has yet to come of it.

    Stipe Miocic was a well-deserved champion. In his 15 years of MMA, the Ohio native accrued 15 wins by knockout. The first loss of his career was in 2012 against the 7 foot tall Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve.

    Additionally, Miocic has proven he has the ability to bounce back from losses in the past. He bested Daniel Cormier twice in their trilogy and defeated Junior Dos Santos by TKO after losing to him by decision a few years prior.

    Miocic is one of the most successful heavyweights to ever compete. Undoubtedly, he will apply his greatness to being the best firefighter he can.

    What are your thoughts on Stipe Miocic becoming a full-time firefighter?

  • Quote: Jon Jones Is Too Good For Stipe Miocic Right Now

    Jon Jones has teased a 2022 bout with Stipe Miocic, but one notable figure feels Jones is out of Miocic’s league.

    For over a year, Jon Jones has been hinting at a heavyweight move. A few things have been standing in his way, including some personal issues, business issues, and having to put on weight. Now, it seems he is closer than ever to making the jump feet first into the heavyweight division.

    Jones recently hinted at a bout with former champion Stipe Miocic. Although many are very excited about this potential matchup and the prospect of seeing two of the best fight each other, one man who has a vast knowledge of the sport thinks it may be a lopsided matchup.

    John McCarthy
    Image Credit: Kevin Jairaj for USA TODAY Sports

    John McCarthy is one of the most knowledgeable men when it comes to the sport of mixed martial arts. He was an MMA referee for over 20 years and has been right in the action for some of the biggest fights in history. He has since stepped down from refereeing and hosts a podcast where he speaks about the sport with his co-host Josh Thomson.

    Here is what McCarthy said about a potential Jones/Miocic encounter at this stage of their careers:

    “I think Jon knows it [the title shot] is coming and he’s just starting to wet the whistle on it and get people’s attention towards it and that’s okay that’s what he’s supposed to [do], ” McCarthy said on his “Weighing In” Podcast (via first sportz). “Jon is too good for Stipe at this time… I love Stipe, but Stipe’s getting older, and it’s the wrestling of Stipe that usually works for him.”

    Jones vacated the light heavyweight title back in May of 2020 with the intention of moving up a division. Prior to that, he had not lost a bout since 2009.

    Many people are interested in seeing what he can do at heavyweight, especially against the likes of Francis Ngannou. However, as for Miocic, he has lost two of his last four, including the title loss to Ngannou. McCarthy feels that Miocic’s skills would not translate well against Jones.

    “He’s got the ability to, you know, to have that and have in his back pocket where you can either use it or at least threaten it, and people have to you know to fight a certain way,” McCarthy said. “He’s not going to be able to threaten it in any fashion with Jon. That’s going to cause a problem and Jon can do it in reverse to him.”

    Jones has mentioned that he is only interested in a title shot when he is ready to return. However, the problem with that is the availability of Ngannou. Ngannou is fresh off his first title defense and needs some time off for surgery.

    Ngannou and the UFC have had a rocky relationship lately, and this could be leading to an interim title situation. If that is the case, perhaps Jones vs. Miocic could fit the mold.

    Do you think Jones’ skills are too much for Miocic at this point in time?

  • (Archives) Miocic: It’s Unfortunate For Ngannou He Has To Fight Me Again (2021)

    One month before Francis Ngannou’s heavyweight championship win at UFC 260, Stipe Miocic was confident that the rematch would yield the same results as their bout two years prior at UFC 220. The following article published on this day last year captures that confidence.

    The following article was published on this day last year. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 5, 2021, 11:16 AM]

    Title: Miocic: It’s Unfortunate For Ngannou That He Has To Fight Me Again

    UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic believes that the “new” version of Francis Ngannou will get the same old outcome on March 27 when the two top heavyweights meet again.

    Becoming a UFC champion is a life-changer. It’s impressive enough to make it to the biggest MMA promotion in the world from humble beginnings, but to then capture a title enhances not only the money and fame but the legacy. Francis Ngannou seems to be in this position once again after coming up short in his first bid for the world title in 2018.

    The bad news for Ngannou is that this story will not have a different ending than it did on January 20, 2018, says world champion Stipe Miocic.

    “Francis is a super tough guy,” Miocic said, speaking on the “Oral Sessions” podcast. “He’s been knocking everyone out again and he’s on a tear, and unfortunately he’s going to have to fight me again. That’s the bad part. He’s definitely gotten better, but so have I.

    Image result for Stipe Miocic arm raised Francis Ngannou
    Stipe Miocic & Francis Ngannou Battle At UFC 220

    “I know I’m getting old, but I’ve gotten wiser and I’ve got a few new tricks up my sleeve. (They say) you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, which is a lie. I’ve learned a lot since the last couple years ago. It’s the same outcome. I’m going to walk out with the belt around my waist: and still.”

    Miocic Identifies The Difference-Maker In Upcoming Rematch

    Francis Ngannou continues to add more knockouts to his total that is on pace to break records. He surely already has the fastest knockouts-per-minute ratio in the history of the promotion, a stat that was solidified after KOing Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik in under three minutes of total fight time.

    Some may argue that Ngannou has not really changed. He is doing the same thing he’s always done: throw dumbells at his opponents’ faces, rendering them unconscious upon impact. But Ngannou does seem to be faster than he was before. Even still, the champion believes that Ngannou isn’t the only one who has gotten faster and that there is still a significant differential between the two.

    “Timing and speed,” Miocic said. “Really just speed. It’s all about speed. Speed kills, and that’s something we’ve really worked on the last couple camps fighting ‘DC.’”

    UFC 260: Miocic vs. Ngannou 2 takes place March 27, 2021 live on pay per view.

    Do you think the rematch between Miocic and Ngannou will have the same outcome as their first encounter?

  • Ngannou: I Looked At Gane In The 3rd Round & Saw My 2018 Self

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou was reminded of his first Stipe Miocic fight when he looked at Ciryl Gane midway through UFC 270.

    Ngannou made his first title defense against Gane in the UFC 270 main event, winning via unanimous decision. It wasn’t the striking showcase everyone expected, but the champion demonstrated his improved grappling skills to get the victory over Gane.

    The first two rounds weren’t going in Ngannou’s favor according to two of the UFC 270 judges. However, he was able to turn the tide in Rounds 3 through 5 and control the path to retaining his belt.

    Ngannou’s journey to the UFC title was anything but easy. After a difficult loss to Miocic at UFC 220, he would lose a lackluster bout against Derrick Lewis before going on his current six-fight winning streak.

    Ngannou has alluded to his UFC 220 fight with Miocic as a completely different version of who he is today. During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, he revealed that Gane’s body language at the end of Round 3 reminded him of his former self.

    “By the end of the round, I looked at him, I saw me when I fought Stipe the first time,” Ngannou said. “I’m like, ‘This guy is done.’ Yeah, and he wasn’t even able to listen to his coach. I was listening to his corner talk to him and he wasn’t reacting. I’m like, he’s done. That is exactly me when I fought Stipe the first time. That’s the moment that I knew I won the fight, at the end of the third round… He was broken, I could tell. I look him in his eyes and was like it’s a done deal.”

    Francis Ngannou’s UFC Future Remains Uncertain

    Ngannou went through quite the buildup to UFC 270. He’s been dealing with tense contract talks with UFC President Dana White and the promotion, and negotiations have seemingly hit a dead end.

    This was further supported when White declined to put the belt around Ngannou as the official decision was read at UFC 270. White also was notably absent from post-fight media obligations, though White has since claimed external issues prevented him from carrying out these activities.

    When asked by Helwani to forecast his future with the promotion, Ngannou remained cautiously optimistic. There are tears in the relationship with the UFC that need repair, and Ngannou seems hell-bent on getting the promotion back on his side.

    What are your takeaways from Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane?

  • Jon Jones Teases LHW GOAT vs. HW GOAT Matchup

    Jon Jones says he’s “down” to face the heavyweight GOAT.

    Jon Jones has long established that he intends on making his heavyweight debut at some point this year. The question now is: who will it be against?

    Following the outcome of the UFC 270 main event, the answer to that question would be the same around most circles as its been for the past 13 months: Francis Ngannou. With Ngannou retaining the undisputed heavyweight championship last month, many believe there’s no question that a Jones/Ngnanou pairing is the fight to make.

    Things took a turn, however, when it was revealed that Ngannou would be needing to go under the knife to repair damage to his injured right knee. The champion is expected to be sidelined for approximately nine months following surgery, which leaves Jones without an ideal target for his long-anticipated heavyweight debut—or does it?

    Jon Jones Asks Fans Who Wants To See Him vs. The HW GOAT

    According to Jones himself, he is already prepared for his next fight and has just the opponent in mind.

    “The greatest heavyweight of all-time versus the greatest light heavyweight, who wants to see it? I’m game”

    While Jones did not mention Miocic by name, the former heavyweight king has been considered to be the consensus GOAT of the division for years now, especially among UFC pundits.

    Also, as someone who has demonstrated how closely he is following current happenings in the division, Jones must be aware that Ngannou is sidelined. Some, including Jones’ former foe Daniel Cormier, have proposed an interim title fight between Jones and Miocic while Ngannou is out.

    A dream fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic has been teased for years, including by Jones himself. Two years ago, Jones sent out a very similar tweet asking about fan interest for a potential fight between him and Miocic. He would later admit to just goofing around without any real intentions of making that fight happen at that point in time.

    Last August, UFC President Dana White had the idea of pitting Jones and Miocic against one another, but Jones shut that down in a hurry. Later that year, his former coach Mike Winkeljohn expanded on this disinterest, stating that Jones wanted a bigger challenge and that a bout against Miocic, who had just been knocked out by Ngannou, was not exciting for “Bones.”

    Jones sounds plenty excited now, though, and the fan interest in the matchup is a no-brainer. That leaves the cards in the hands of Stipe Miocic and the UFC.

    Miocic has been more than welcoming of the idea of fighting Jones in the past and, as mentioned, the UFC has been open to the booking as well. Plus, Miocic is rumored to be holding out for a title shot, so if this bout were made for the interim heavyweight title, that would make the matchup even more appetizing for both fighters.

    All things considered, 2022 may just be the year that fight fans finally witness the dream match between the consensus light heavyweight and heavyweight GOATs.

    Are you down for a Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic showdown this year?

  • Gane: Ngannou Didn’t Follow The Game Plan In 2018 Miocic Defeat

    Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane has suggested Francis Ngannou lost to Stipe Miocic in 2018 because he didn’t follow the game plan.

    When Ngannou reached the mountaintop by brutally knocking Miocic out at UFC 260 last March, he wasn’t just building his legacy by becoming a champion, but he was also avenging the first UFC defeat of his career.

    Heading into the opening pay-per-view of 2018, Ngannou was 6-0 in the UFC and was expected to secure his place on the throne. In his run in the promotion up to that point, he’d finished all of his opponents inside the opening two rounds, five by KO or TKO.

    But at UFC 220, Ngannou faced a step-up in competition that he had perhaps not fully appreciated. Across five rounds against the consensus heavyweight GOAT Miocic, “The Predator” was taken down, controlled, and fatigued. After 25 minutes, Ngannou fell on the wrong side of a lopsided unanimous decision verdict.

    Gane Explains Why Ngannou Fell Short At UFC 220

    At UFC 260 last March, Ngannou had the chance for redemption. The big question heading into the pay-per-view was could the Cameroonian powerhouse keep the fight standing and defend against Miocic’s wrestling and takedown attempts? That query was answered emphatically.

    With the gold now around his waist, Ngannou will look to defend it for the first time in a unification showdown against interim titleholder Gane. Ahead of the UFC 270 main event this Saturday, “Bon Gamin” discussed the improvements Ngannou made between his two championship fights.

    Speaking to former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping for BT Sport, Gane suggested Ngannou failed in his first crack at dethroning Miocic because he didn’t follow the game plan, something the champ’s team at Xtreme Couture were able to rectify heading into the rematch.

    “He was really better (in the Miocic rematch). I think his coach did something good because the problem with Francis is about the game plan,” said Gane. “He don’t like to follow the game plan. So that’s why he was wrong in the first fight with Stipe. Now, he improved on that and that was really better.”

    With Ngannou’s wrestling visibly improved and developed last time out, and with his belief that he’ll have a firm advantage over Gane in that department, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising to see the much-talked-about battle between power and striking technique venture to the ground at some point at UFC 270.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 270, Ciryl Gane or Francis Ngannou?

  • Ngannou Felt As If He Was Fighting Miocic In His Mind During UFC 226

    The fight with Stipe Miocic took a toll on Francis Ngannou’s mind.

    Francis Ngannou is the UFC heavyweight champion and is a force to be reckoned with. He is lined up for his first title defense against interim champion Ciryl Gane, but in the leadup, Ngannou can’t help but think back to his first shot at the title, his 2018 loss to Stipe Miocic. Ngannou reminisced about this while speaking with Daniel Cormier.

    “The whole Derrick Lewis fight, I was [thinking] like, ‘OK, don’t rush. I mean, I remember in the Octagon in front of Derrick Lewis, was telling myself, ‘Don’t rush. Calm down,” Ngannou said. “Don’t rush. Don’t rush. You have all the time. You have all the time. Until three rounds.”

    The loss against Miocic at UFC 220 was the first of Ngannou’s UFC career. The loss put a halt to the hype train that Ngannou had been riding up until that point. The knockout machine was put through five tough rounds against Miocic, unlike any fight he had been in up to that point. It seemed that the mental toll it took on him continued through his next fight.

    Derrick Lewis believes Francis Ngannou
    Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

     “I swear to God, at the end of the fight, I thought it was like maybe the second round or something,” He explained. “I wasn’t even there. Because I was still fighting Stipe in my mind. I was just like, “Calm down, you’re gonna cut him. You’re gonna have time. Take your time.’ So time was going by, and I wasn’t realizing how fast time was going. I was like, ‘I’m good’ until like, ‘Oh, this is the end?’ I was even surprised.”

    The loss to Miocic and Lewis are the only two stains of Ngannou’s UFC resume to this point. Ngannou got back on track against Curtis Blaydes and racked up four more wins. He found his way back up to Miocic, and this time would not be denied. Ngannou is the champ now and plans to stay there for quite some time. He will have his first test as champ on Jan. 22 at UFC 270.

    What do you think of Ngannou’s mindset and the toll the fight with Stipe Miocic took on him?

  • Blaydes: Miocic’s Win Over Ngannou More Impressive Than UFC 260 KO

    Curtis Blaydes is not giving Francis Ngannou heavyweight GOAT status just yet.

    With a very exciting heavyweight title fight coming up on Jan. 22, featuring champ Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane, another heavyweight is giving his thoughts on the division. Curtis Blaydes sat down with MMA News to discuss what he makes of the champion and the rest of his possible competition.

    Blaydes spoke a bit about the differences between Ngannou and former champion Stipe Miocic. Blaydes isn’t ready to give the title of GOAT to Ngannou just yet and even feels that Miocic’s win over Ngannou was more impressive to him than Ngannou’s win over Miocic.

    “No, no. That still goes to Stipe… Ngannou has not done enough, in my opinion, to be the greatest ever,” Blaydes said. “He’s very, very good, but when we’re talking the GOAT, you have to start to nitpick, and I’m gonna nitpick,” said Blaydes. “He’s lost rounds. Like, he got owned when he fought Stipe the first time. That wasn’t a good look. He got owned. I’ve never seen, even when Stipe lost, he never got owned. Like, he got knocked out by Ngannou; at heavyweight, anybody can get knocked out.

    “I’m a lot more impressed by decisions. I know that’s weird to say, that a unanimous decision is more impressive than a knockout, but at heavyweight, anybody can get knocked out,” added Blaydes. “That’s just what heavyweights do. But for you to skillfully beat a guy for five rounds, that’s very impressive. I’ve yet to see a Ngannou do that. He hasn’t had to do that yet, but I don’t think he has that ability. I don’t think he wants to be in the Octagon for five rounds. He knows that’s not how he wins.”

    Blaydes is currently ranked fourth in the heavyweight division. He has only lost one fight in his last six and holds wins over Alexander Volkov and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Blaydes could find himself next in line for a title shot if Ngannou wins.

    Of course, there are other people in the mix, as Jon Jones’ heavyweight debut is looming and Stipe Miocic is still in the picture as well. Perhaps Blades could be matched up with Miocic sometime soon.

    What do you think about Blaydes’ perception of Miocic and Ngannou?

  • Archives: Miocic Felt “Crapped On” With UFC 203 Contract (2017)

    Stipe Miocic has often lamented feeling disrespected by the UFC brass. This dates back to five years ago, regarding a contract offered to him for his UFC 203 title defense against Alistair Overeem in 2016.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 16, 2017, 9:26 PM]

    Headline: Stipe Miocic Felt “Crapped On” With UFC 203 Contract

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Reigning UFC Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic last saw action at UFC 203 when he successfully retained his gold against Alistair Overeem with a first round knockout. While Miocic was able to celebrate his victory in front of a frenetic hometown crowd, the champ isn’t all smiles.

    Stipe Miocic recently appeared on MMAFighting.com‘s “The MMA Hour.”  There, he expressed his frustration over making less money than the challenger:

    “I just felt like I was kinda crapped on a little bit. I try to do things right and work with them, and they just didn’t give me a great deal. That’s my own fault, but also they knew what they were doing. They took my kindness for weakness. They told me it was the best deal they could do, and I said, oh ‘okay, great.’ And then come to find out, it wasn’t.”

    Overeem’s base salary for the fight was $800,000. Miocic’s number sat at $600,000. The champion said he went to the UFC brass and told them how he felt about his payout. Their response didn’t sit well with the Croatian.

    “Blah, blah, blah, blah. They just made up some excuse, like ‘that’s the contract you signed.’ You’re making money off me in my hometown, and you’re giving the man that’s a challenger who’s never won the title in the UFC, you’re giving him more money? It definitely should change. But the fact that my challenger made more money than me in my last fight was just kind of a slap in the face.”

    While it appears the UFC is sticking to their guns on the contract, Miocic said he hopes going forward there will be some adjustments made. At the moment, he doesn’t feel things are on an even playing field.

    “[It’s] terrible. Things definitely need to be changed. Something’s gotta change. It’s not really fair.”

  • Daniel Cormier Believes Jon Jones Should Dictate HW Title Picture

    Daniel Cormier thinks Jon Jones could be next for the heavyweight title.

    Daniel Cormier knows what it is like to be the UFC heavyweight champion. Now as a retired fighter and UFC analyst, Cormier is on the outside looking in. With a heavyweight championship bout happening in just a few weeks, the future of the division is now a topic of conversation. Cormier believes that the winner between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 will find themselves matched up with Jon Jones next.

    “Honestly, it’s just a matter of when Jones gets there,” Cormier told The Schmo. “And rightfully so.

    “For all that he’s done at 205, when he goes to heavyweight, it is his matchup to turn down. It has to be for Jon Jones and what he decides to do.”

    Jon Jones was the longtime king at light heavyweight. He decided to make the move to heavyweight back in May of 2020 but has yet to do so. He is working on his physique and putting on weight to get ready for his heavyweight debut.

    Last year, there was some UFC negotiation trouble and legal trouble that made Jones’ return to the cage unclear. However, with all this Jones drama, Cormier still thinks it will be him next in line anyway, not former two-time champion Stipe Miocic.

    “As much as Stipe is probably deserving, are we talking deserving, or what is going to happen?” Cormier explained. “Because even though Stipe is deserving, Jones makes it known that he is at heavyweight and ready to fight he’s going to be the guy who gets the title fight.”

    Stipe Miocic is itching at another chance at Ngannou or whoever is holding the belt come Jan. 23. Miocic was the longest-running UFC heavyweight champion and has been waiting for a shot to show that he is still champion material. Miocic was overlooked when the UFC decided to make the interim title and now might be waiting even longer if Jones jumps the line.

    Do you agree with Cormier that Jones will get a title shot before Stipe Miocic?

  • Lewis Explains Why Miocic Fight Would Be A Chance At Redemption

    Derrick Lewis is looking for a fight that means something both to himself and his fans.

    Derrick Lewis is one of the best fighters in the heavyweight division. Although he has never won a UFC title, Lewis has been a mainstay in the top five for many years. Now that his title aspirations might be dimming, Lewis is looking to make a different kind of impact in the division and in his career. Lewis has an idea that excited him for his next Octagon appearance, and he believed it will excite fight fans as well.

    “This last fight helped me,” Lewis told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour about his loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC 265. “It was a big experience difference and I just wanted to finally go into a fight week and not put pressure on myself, and it felt great. I plan on doing that for the rest of my career—just go out there and have fun.

    “I feel like I don’t have to prove anything and that’s one of the reasons why I want to fight Stipe next. I believe that would be a great matchup for the fans and for both of us. He’s more of a wrestler, and I’m more of a wrestler, too. So it would be a great, entertaining fight.”

    Lewis’s last time out was against Chris Daukaus in December. That matchup got Lewis back in the win column following his interim title shot loss to Gane. The loss to Gane was the only blemish on Lewis’s resume in that past six fights. Without the belt around his waist, Lewis is ready for a fresh face next.

    “I’ve fought just about everyone in the division in the top-10. It’d be a new face, new blood, and I believe I’d be a heavy underdog in this fight,” he said. “I can get my fans their money back from the Gane fight.”

    Lewis’s target of Miocic has not been reciprocated at this point. Miocic’s last outing was back in March when he lost his title to Francis Ngannou. Miocic has mentioned waiting on another shot at the belt, but he may be open to a fight in the meantime, and Lewis could be a good option.

    What do you think of the hypothetical matchup between Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis?

  • Stipe Miocic: Heavyweight’s Odd Man Out

    Some of the better fights in the heavyweight division are being made currently. Last month, former title challenger Derrick Lewis made for a good step-up fight against prospect Chris Daukaus. And this month, an undefeated challenger in Ciryl Gane will face the ever-so-explosive champion Francis Ngannou.

    There’s a lot of interesting things happening at heavyweight, but something is missing. Rather, someone is missing: and that would be Stipe Miocic.

    Those who watched the UFC from 2016 to 2020 will remember Miocic as a dominant force at heavyweight. He defended his belt three times in his first reign, making him the most successful heavyweight champ in the promotion’s history—out-performing anyone who held the title since its inception in 1997.

    He suffered a setback in 2018 against Daniel Cormier, getting stopped in the first round by the former light heavyweight. But in a testament to his adversity, he returned a year later to regain his belt. He went four rounds with Cormier and finished him in their 2019 rematch. A year later, he beat “DC” again and put an end to their rivalry.

    After Miocic’s brutal second-round knockout loss to Ngannou last year, he has been completely out of the heavyweight picture. And unfairly so. His absence from the scene has been felt—so much so that he has had to come out and deny that he is going into retirement.

    Lewis recently mentioned he wants to face Miocic because he is “one of the best of all time” at heavyweight. A question could be posed about whether that fight is intriguing. However, that’s not the first question that comes to mind. Instead, we think, “What is the ‘greatest of all time’ doing on the sidelines?”

    In 2022, Where Does Miocic Fit In The Heavyweight Picture?

    First, let’s look back to the summer of 2021 for a moment. When surprised by the news of an interim title fight between Gane and Lewis, Miocic was “bothered” that the UFC didn’t come to him regarding the fight. However, he also mentioned he wasn’t sure he would accept the fight if he was offered it due to his wife being pregnant at the time.

    So sure, there was some justification for him possibly being left out of the interim title fight even though it might have been fair for them to at least approach him. But let’s take a step back: should he even be in the interim title bout? Even that may be a step down for him. He is one of the most successful heavyweights in UFC history. His loss—no matter how bad it was—shouldn’t write off his years of wins at a high level.

    Miocic Should Get The Title Fight

    Stipe MIocic, Francis Ngannou

    Some may criticize that Miocic feels he deserves a fight against Ngannou. However, there’s more than enough reason for him to get that fight.

    If his pure dominance in the division for numerous years doesn’t give the idea of another fight against Ngannou legs to stand on, there’s another fact that does. It’s that Miocic beat Ngannou before. He went the distance with him in early 2018, walking away with a scorecard win to retain his belt. It can’t be forgotten that a fight between them wouldn’t be a rematch; it would be a trilogy with an even score.

    It could be said that Ngannou’s win over Miocic was quite decisive in early 2021. But the consistent results from Miocic as a champion, plus his older win against Ngannou, offers a good enough case for him to get a fight.

    The lack of buzz around Miocic coupled with the fact that he hasn’t been mentioned by the UFC recently feels out of place in contrast to where he stands in the recent history of heavyweight MMA. It feels like a failure of the entire system from the highest, most influential names in the sport down to the casual viewer that Miocic is currently being forgotten in the divisional picture. Then again, maybe that can change in the new year.

  • Archives: Miocic Sends Message To DC After Jones’ Test Incident (2018)

    Yesterday, we shared an editorial from last year that documented Jon Jones’ chaotic drug-testing history. Once the news broke of another atypical test finding for Jones, Daniel Cormier was expectedly one of the first to react. Stipe Miocic would then react to Cormier’s reaction, five months after DC defeated him for the UFC heavyweight championship.

    The following story is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 26, 2018, 10:23 AM]

    Headline: Stipe Miocic Sends Message To DC After Jones’ Drug Test Incident

    Author: Jon Fuentes

    Current UFC “Champ Champ” Daniel Cormier’s mixed martial arts (MMA) career is coming to an end. Cormier has said that, following his heavyweight title defense over Derrick Lewis in November, he has one fight left in him. It’s believed that fight will be against the returning Brock Lesnar sometime in the first quarter of 2019. However, it’s also believed Cormier will fight longtime rival Jon Jones once more before retiring as well.

    Should that take place, however, there will always be doubts about Jones’ competitive integrity. After having issues with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in the past, Jones has once again found himself in a bit of controversy. “Bones” is set to face Alexander Gustafsson in the main event of this weekend’s UFC 232 pay-per-view (PPV). Initially, the fight was to take place in Las Vegas.

    However, traces of turinabol were recently detected in Jones’ system. It has been said that those traces are leftover from Jones’ initial failed drug test last year, and are not new traces. Despite this, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) did not license Jones to fight this weekend. This forced the UFC to move UFC 232 from Vegas to California, where Jones was able to get licensed.

    After the news initially broke, Cormier took to Twitter to react:

    “He tested positive again!”

    Stipe Miocic, the man Cormier defeated to win the heavyweight title, offered a response:

    “I’m always clean. I train and drink Modelo.”

    “I know you are and that’s why It was a pleasure in the lead up to the fight with you, and if we do it again it will be the same.”

    What do you make of Miocic’s message to Cormier after Jones’ drug test incident?