Stipe Miocic isn’t big on words, but his message after UFC 285 was clear: Bring it, Jon Jones.
Jones, the former longtime light heavyweight champion, made quick work of Ciryl Gane to claim the vacant heavyweight title in Saturday night’s headliner in Las Vegas after a three-year layoff.
And what’s next is what was already being discussed prior to UFC 285: Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) and former champion Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) will fight each other, with UFC president Dana White saying afterward that it’s “definitely” happening.
July 8 to headline UFC 290 is a possibility, although White said “I don’t know when” when asked about a date. As far as Miocic is concerned, he “100 percent, no questions” wants to fight Jones in July after getting an up-close look at him from cageside at T-Mobile Arena.
“Nothing’s gonna change,” Miocic told ESPN reporter Megan Olivi of how he’ll prepare for Jones. ” I’m gonna train my ass off and beat that ass.”
Not one to elaborate much, Miocic didn’t have too much to say about Jones’ performance in his first-round submission of Gane.
“Good for him. Hey, he won. I’ll see him in July,” Miocic said. “… “They’re all big boys at heavyweight. Not that much to say. It is what it is.”
Miocic, 40, held the UFC heavyweight title on two separate occasions, defending it four times total. He hasn’t competed since March 2021, when he lost the belt to Francis Ngannou by second-round knockout.
After his win, Jones addressed Miocic and called him “the greatest heavyweight of all time.”
“None of my past champions that I’ve beat were considered GOATs,” Jones said. “This is GOAT vs. GOAT.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.
