Tag: Stipe Miocic

UFC CEO Dana White claims Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic ‘should happen’ this summer

Dana White on Jones vs. MiocicDana White expects Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic to go down this summer. The two Octagon icons were originally…

Dana White on Jones vs. Miocic

Dana White expects Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic to go down this summer.

The two Octagon icons were originally scheduled to headline UFC 296 in December, but ‘Bones’ was forced out of the bout after tearing his pectoral muscle in the weeks leading up to their heavyweight title tilt. The promotion quickly booked an interim fight between Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich, with the Brit capturing gold via a stunning 69-second knockout.

Instead of moving on to fight Jones — who reigns as the undisputed heavyweight champion — Aspinall will sit on the sidelines waiting for ‘Bones’ and Miocic to settle their business first. Even then, there’s no guarantee that Aspinall will have the chance to fight Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic with both fighters suggesting that their heavyweight superfight could be the last of their respective careers.

“Yes, this summer it should happen,” White told Maxx Crosby while discussing Jones vs. Miocic. “It’s interesting [on the retirement aspect]. I think it depends on who wins. I mean, either guy that wins, how do you not fight Aspinall?

“I think there’s a — it’s almost like a courtesy, if you will,” he continued. “If you’re looked at as one of the GOATs, whoever wins this fight, it’s almost like a courtesy thing to give that guy the shot. Give him an opportunity to win or you win and it just absolutely cements nobody can poke holes in [the legacy] that nobody can say anything about it” (h/t MMA Mania).

is Dana White being more optimistic than realistic?

Jon Jones revealed that he was being courted for the UFC 300 headliner on April 13, but quickly shut down talks as he had recently undergone elbow surgery while his pectoral muscle continued to heal — essentially eliminating two birds with one stone.

“I was actually called and offered to fight on the event,” Jones wrote on X. “The guys said they just wanted to give me the option. We both knew I wouldn’t be ready.”

Given the nature of his injuries, even summer 2024 seems a bit early for Jones’ return, suggesting that White could be speaking more optimistically than realistically with his proposed timeline.

Tom Aspinall shuts down UFC title fights with Jon Jones, Stipe Miocic: ‘I’m too dangerous, man’

Tom Aspinall shuts down title fights with Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic I'm too dangerousUFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall believes there is a reason to why he is not facing either Jon…

Tom Aspinall shuts down title fights with Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic I'm too dangerous

UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall believes there is a reason to why he is not facing either Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic. 

Following his phenomenal first round knockout over then No.1 ranked Sergei Pavlovich, Aspinall cemented himself the division’s top contender. However, the UFC has instead decided to rebook Miocic Vs. Jones after the latter suffered an injury, leaving Tom Aspinall in a sort of limbo. 

Tom Aspinall claims he’s “too dangerous” for Jones – Miocic

Aspinall has tried to push for a fight with either man but remains without an opponent with both Jones and Miocic unwilling to face Aspinall next. Appearing on The MMA Hour, Aspinall believes it is simply because he poses too much danger, but also expressed his deep respect for both guys.

“I’m too dangerous, man,” he said. “Simple. I’m too risky for these guys. Who knows, one day maybe when the shoe’s on the other foot, and I’m on the back end of my career, I get put in a situation like that, I’ll do the same thing. I’m not blaming anybody.

“I want to say how much respect I have for both guys. These guys are friggin’ heroes of mine. That is part of the reason that I would love to get the opportunity to fight them. But if it’s not happening, it’s not happening. And the crying’s over.” (H/T MMA Fighting)

Aspinall revealed that the UFC had even offered him a fight with Miocic, which he accepted, however, the two-time heavyweight champion quickly shot down a fight with the Brit.

“They offered me Stipe, and I was like, of course,” Aspinall said. “And like one hour later, they came back and were like, ‘No, Stipe just wants to fight Jones.’

It’s unclear what exactly the UFC will do with Aspinall, but the 30-year-old might be facing an extended time out. 

What would you like to see Tom Aspinall do next? 

Jon Jones shuts down retirement talk ahead of UFC return fight: ‘I can’t just walk away’

Jon Jones shuts down retirement talk ahead of UFC return I can't just walk awayDespite continued speculation linking him with a decision to retire from mixed martial arts competition following his impending comeback…

Jon Jones shuts down retirement talk ahead of UFC return I can't just walk away

Despite continued speculation linking him with a decision to retire from mixed martial arts competition following his impending comeback title fight against Stipe Miocic, UFC heavyweight kingpin, Jon Jones claims he “can’t just walk away” from the Octagon should he beat the Ohio veteran.

Jones, a former two-time light heavyweight champion and current heavyweight champion, has been sidelined since he lifted vacated gold at the heavyweight limit last March, submitting former interim champion, Ciryl Gane with a first round guillotine choke submission win at UFC 285. 

And forced from a November comeback at Madison Square Garden in a title defense against the returning, Miocic, Jones suffered a pectoral tendon tear just two weeks’ out from the bout – resulting in the shelving of the bout.

Jon Jones weighs up potential future after UFC return

Still targeting a return to the Octagon against Euclid veteran and former two-time champion, Miocic later this year, Jones claimed that despite speculation linking him – as well as Miocic with a stunning double retirement in the aftermath of their fight, he can’t see himself just walking away from the sport should he beat the former.

“I can’t say that,” Jon Jones told Submission Radio. “I’m really going to base whether I continue on how I compete against Stipe (Miocic), how I heal up from this injury. I could blow Stipe out of the water or it could be an absolute war. And I feel like I need to take one step at a time before seeing what I do next. But, the Tom (Aspinall) fight is definitely not off the table. Especially with how I’ve been feeling being out here (Melbourne).”

“I feel just totally reinvigorated and just re-engineered just being around all these fans,” Jon Jones continued. “So, I can’t just walk away. So, the ball is rolling in a really positive direction for me to continue my career.” 

Do you think Jon Jones continues his career after his Stipe Miocic fight?

Jon Jones shuts down retirement talk ahead of UFC return fight: ‘I can’t just walk away’

Jon Jones shuts down retirement talk ahead of UFC return I can't just walk awayDespite continued speculation linking him with a decision to retire from mixed martial arts competition following his impending comeback…

Jon Jones shuts down retirement talk ahead of UFC return I can't just walk away

Despite continued speculation linking him with a decision to retire from mixed martial arts competition following his impending comeback title fight against Stipe Miocic, UFC heavyweight kingpin, Jon Jones claims he “can’t just walk away” from the Octagon should he beat the Ohio veteran.

Jones, a former two-time light heavyweight champion and current heavyweight champion, has been sidelined since he lifted vacated gold at the heavyweight limit last March, submitting former interim champion, Ciryl Gane with a first round guillotine choke submission win at UFC 285. 

And forced from a November comeback at Madison Square Garden in a title defense against the returning, Miocic, Jones suffered a pectoral tendon tear just two weeks’ out from the bout – resulting in the shelving of the bout.

Jon Jones weighs up potential future after UFC return

Still targeting a return to the Octagon against Euclid veteran and former two-time champion, Miocic later this year, Jones claimed that despite speculation linking him – as well as Miocic with a stunning double retirement in the aftermath of their fight, he can’t see himself just walking away from the sport should he beat the former.

“I can’t say that,” Jon Jones told Submission Radio. “I’m really going to base whether I continue on how I compete against Stipe (Miocic), how I heal up from this injury. I could blow Stipe out of the water or it could be an absolute war. And I feel like I need to take one step at a time before seeing what I do next. But, the Tom (Aspinall) fight is definitely not off the table. Especially with how I’ve been feeling being out here (Melbourne).”

“I feel just totally reinvigorated and just re-engineered just being around all these fans,” Jon Jones continued. “So, I can’t just walk away. So, the ball is rolling in a really positive direction for me to continue my career.” 

Do you think Jon Jones continues his career after his Stipe Miocic fight?

Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall claims to have accepted a UFC 300 fight with Stipe Miocic

Tom AspinallCurrent interim heavyweight world champion Tom Aspinall accepted a fight with Stipe Miocic for UFC 300. Ever since his…

Tom Aspinall

Current interim heavyweight world champion Tom Aspinall accepted a fight with Stipe Miocic for UFC 300.

Ever since his title-winning performance against Sergei Pavlovich in November, Aspinall has been pushing hard for a unification clash with undisputed champ Jon Jones. Typically, the interim titleholder would go on to fight the linear champion, no ifs, and, or buts, but Aspinall has found himself in an unfavorable situation that could keep him sitting on the sidelines for the next year.

Instead, Jones, who is currently recovering from a pectoral tear, will return to fight the man he was originally scheduled to defend his title against at UFC 295, Stipe Miocic. The winner of that fight would then unify his belt with Aspinall’s, in theory. Even that is the subject of much debate as both ‘Bones’ and Miocic are slated to retire once their heavyweight superfight is in the books.

Recently, Tom Aspinall dropped a bombshell on social media, revealing that the UFC had contacted him about a potential fight with Stipe Miocic at the promotion’s next landmark event on April 13. Aspinall says he accepted the fight only for Miocic to turn it down, opting to wait for Jones.

“While we are talking about @stipemiocic , my manager was contacted by the UFC asking if I’d like to fight him on apr 13th. I, of course, accepted,” Aspinall wrote on X.

“A little later, we were told that @stipemiocic doesn’t want to fight me, and only interested in fighting @JonnyBones,” Aspinall added.

Tom Aspinall Throws In The Towel

With Jones still recovering from injury, there’s no anticipated date for Jones vs. Miocic, though summer 2024 is looking likely. Acquiescing to the fact that he won’t be fighting either UFC legend anytime soon (or ever), Aspinall has teased a potential UFC 300 clash with Alex Pereira, though it’s starting to look like the UK fan favorite will be sitting out of the promotion’s mega-sized centennial card.

“On that note. I will stop crying, accept it ain’t gonna happen and enjoy the fight that me and all the other fans want to see. Legend vs legend for the heavyweight title. Maximum respect guys. Yay,” Aspinall concluded.