Tag: Stipe Miocic

Chael Sonnen Explains Why Stipe Miocic Is ‘Primed’ To Defeat Jon Jones When They Fight: ‘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 […]

Continue Reading Chael Sonnen Explains Why Stipe Miocic Is ‘Primed’ To Defeat Jon Jones When They Fight: ‘He Realized I Gotta Be More Man…’ at MMA News.

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.

Continue Reading Chael Sonnen Explains Why Stipe Miocic Is ‘Primed’ To Defeat Jon Jones When They Fight: ‘He Realized I Gotta Be More Man…’ at MMA News.

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 […]

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

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.

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

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 […]

Continue Reading Dustin Poirier Wishes UFC Would Bypass Stipe Miocic For ‘Blockbuster’ Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira Fight  at MMA News.

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.

Continue Reading Dustin Poirier Wishes UFC Would Bypass Stipe Miocic For ‘Blockbuster’ Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira Fight  at MMA News.

Stipe Miocic hits out at Tom Aspinall, critics over heavyweight title holdup ahead of UFC 309: ‘Stop crying’

Stipe Miocic hits out at Tom Aspinall haters denies heavyweight holdup stop cryingExpected to make his return at UFC 309 later this year, former two-time heavyweight champion, Stipe Miocic has hit…

Stipe Miocic hits out at Tom Aspinall haters denies heavyweight holdup stop crying

Expected to make his return at UFC 309 later this year, former two-time heavyweight champion, Stipe Miocic has hit out at apparent critics of his – including interim gold holder, Tom Aspinall, denying he is holding up the division, and urging them to “stop crying”.

Miocic, who currently holds the number number six ranked heavyweight rank, has been sidelined for over three years, most recently featuring in a title fight rematch against promotional alum, Francis Ngannou.

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And dropping his second championship belt to the Cameroonian knockout artist, Miocic was felled in the second round of their rematch with a thunderous knockout stoppage.

Remaining steadfast in his pursuit of a long-anticipated showdown against former light heavyweight kingpin, Jones, Miocic claimed the former pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter was most definitely “beatable”.

Stipe Miocic confirms UFC contract prevented him from making boxing move I've tried
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

“Everyone thinks he’s (Jon Jones) going to beat my a*s,” Stipe Miocic told Shakiel Mahjouri. “I don’t like being told that. I like shutting people up. He’s beatable, I know he is. Anyone is beatable and I will be the first to do this.”

“I think styles make matchups,” Stipe MIocic explained. “I think I have a style that doesn’t match well with his style. If the shoe’s on the other foot, it could be me as well. He does a lot of good things. He’s good with his distance, his leg kicks and on the ground. I’m good at making it a fight. I’m technical but I can also make it into a brawl and make him feel really uncomfortable as does he he. I think it depends on who does what they like. Unfortunately, I don’t like being told what to do so I’m going to do what I want to.”

Stipe Miocic hits out at Tom Aspinall, urging fans to “stop crying”

Furthermore, taking issue with critics and even current interim champion, Aspinall – who have alluded to Miocic’s fight with Jones holding up the motion at the heavyweight limit, the Ohio native urged naysayers to stop “crying”.

aspinall walkout

“The UFC can do what they want,” Stipe Miocic explained. “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.”

Do you think Stipe Miocic can beat Jon Jones later this year?

Stipe Miocic claims Jon Jones is ‘Beatable’ ahead of UFC 309 title fight: ‘I will be the first to do it’

Stipe Miocic claims Jon Jones is beatable ahead of UFC 309 I'll be the first to do thisExpected to finally make good on his heavyweight return at UFC 309 in November, former two-time champion, Stipe Miocic…

Stipe Miocic claims Jon Jones is beatable ahead of UFC 309 I'll be the first to do this

Expected to finally make good on his heavyweight return at UFC 309 in November, former two-time champion, Stipe Miocic has claimed expected incoming foe, Jon Jones is most definitely “beatable” – and believes he will become the first fighter to legitimately beat the former.

Miocic, a former undisputed heavyweight champion twice under the banner of the UFC, has been sidelined for the last three years, most recently taking on fellow former champion, Francis Ngannou in the pair’s title fight rematch.

Stipe Miocic never looked better ahead of UFC 295 title fight with Jon Jones
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

And dropping his crown, Ohio veteran, Miocic suffered a thunderous second round knockout loss to the Cameroonian, and has remained sidelined from competition in the time since.

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Slated to headline UFC 295 back in November at Madison Square Garden, Miocic was pulled from the card after the above-mentioned, Jones suffered a pectoral tendon tear in the weeks ahead of the pairing.

Stipe Miocic confident Jon Jones is “beatable” ahead of UFC 309

Awaiting an expected title fight against Jones at the end of the annum, Miocic has claimed the Rochester native is most definitely “beatable” – and apart from a disqualification defeat to Matt Hamill, Miocic vows to become the only other fighter to beat the prior pound-for-pound kingpin.

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“Everyone thinks he’s (Jon Jones) going to beat my a*s,” Stipe Miocic told Shakiel Mahjouri. “I don’t like being told that. I like shutting people up. He’s beatable, I know he is. Anyone is beatable and I will be the first to do this.”

“I think styles make matchups,” Stipe MIocic explained. “I think I have a style that doesn’t match well with his style. If the shoe’s on the other foot, it could be me as well. He does a lot of good things. He’s good with his distance, his leg kicks and on the ground. I’m good at making it a fight. I’m technical but I can also make it into a brawl and make him feel really uncomfortable as does he he. I think it depends on who does what they like. Unfortunately, I don’t like being told what to do so I’m going to do what I want to.”

Who are you picking to win at UFC 309: Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic?

Video – Jon Jones shows off huge physique in new training footage ahead of fight return at UFC 309

Jon Jones shows off new training footage ahead of title fight return at UFC 309All but set to make his return later this year at UFC 309, heavyweight champion, Jon Jones is ramping…

Jon Jones shows off new training footage ahead of title fight return at UFC 309

All but set to make his return later this year at UFC 309, heavyweight champion, Jon Jones is ramping up his training – posting footage of himself bike riding and blasting through heavy squats ahead of his fight with former champion, Stipe Miocic.

Jones, a former two-time undisputed light heavyweight titleholder, managed to mint himself as the undisputed heavyweight champion back in March of last year at UFC 285, submitting French contender, Ciryl Gane in a vacant title fight. 

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And slated to return last November at the promotion’s annual Madison Square Garden card, Jones was forced from a title defense against Ohio veteran, Miocic – suffering a pectoral tendon in the weeks before the headliner at UFC 295.

However, recovering from his injury setback following a surgical procedure, Rochester native Jones has confirmed he is plotting a return at UFC 309 later this year in New York, remaining steadfast on a clash with the above-mentioned, Miocic.

“November 9th Madison Square Garden, I know it seems like a dream but it’s happening,” Jon Jones posted on his official X account.

Jon Jones questions weak training of Stipe MIocic ahead of UFC 309 prepare even harder
Mandatory Credit: Patrick T. Fallon – AFP

Jon Jones shows off new training footage

And on his official Instagram account, former pound-for-pound number one, Jones posted new training footage as he plots his comeback at a first Madison Square Garden outing for himself – which included a massive stack of weighed squats.

Jon Jones leaks UFC 309 title fight with Stipe Miocic in November here I come baby
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

“Today we worked on the top part of my squat,” Jon Jones posted. “I finished up at 525 pounds for a set of three. It’s awesome to feel my strength coming back, while shredding pounds at the same time. I got 18 weeks and three days to improve, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

“Progress equals happiness, sacrifice today, smile tomorrow,” Jon Jones continued. “FInd your personal love for self improvement. That’s a @youngla t-shirt by the way.”

Are you excited to see Jon Jones’ return to the Octagon later this year?