Tag: UFC 309

Stipe Miocic on Facing Jon Jones Over Aspinall: ‘It Wasn’t My Choice” for UFC 309

Stipe Miocic on Facing Jon Jones Over Aspinall: 'It Wasn't My Choice" for UFC 309Nearly three years removed from his last appearance inside the Octagon, Stipe Miocic returns on Saturday, November 16 for…

Stipe Miocic on Facing Jon Jones Over Aspinall: 'It Wasn't My Choice" for UFC 309

Nearly three years removed from his last appearance inside the Octagon, Stipe Miocic returns on Saturday, November 16 for a high-stakes heavyweight showdown with undisputed titleholder Jon Jones.

The last time fight fans saw the consensus heavyweight GOAT compete, he suffered a nasty second-round knockout loss against Francis Ngannou. Now, the Cleveland native is back and ready to retake the heavyweight crown when he meets ‘Bones’ in the UFC 309 headliner in Madison Square Garden.

Stipe Miocic

Much scrutiny has surrounded Miocic’s upcoming clash against Jones, much of it surrounding interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall who has been left by the wayside while the UFC continues to push Jones vs. Miocic.

After ‘Bones’ bowed out of his originally scheduled scrap with the two-time titleholder last November, an interim title was introduced at UFC 295 between Aspinall and Russian knockout artist Sergei Pavlovich. Aspinall won the bout via a 69-second KO and has since defended the interim belt against Curtis Blaydes while waiting for ‘Bones’ to recover and settle his business with Miocic before a potential unification clash.

Stipe Miocic

However, Miocic himself was the subject of some criticism after he chose to stand aside and let Aspinall fight Pavlovich instead of accepting the Brit as a replacement opponent for his scrapped scrap with Jones. Miocic has also been healthy this entire year, meaning he could have stepped up and fought Aspinall for the interim title instead.

Responding to some of that criticism during an interview with MMA Fighting, Miocic passed the buck to the UFC.

”It wasn’t my choice. It’s a fight I wanted, and the UFC gave it to me. They didn’t have to. They gave it to me” (h/t Sportskeeda).

Miocic did acknowledge that Aspinall is who the people want to see right now.

”[Tom Aspinall is] tough,” Miocic added. “He hits hard. Big boy. It’s what people want, he knocks people out.”

Stipe Miocic is confident in his game plan for jon jones

Regardless of the backlash, Stipe Miocic is looking forward to his return to MSG and is confident that he and his team have devised a game plan that will make him the UFC’s first-ever three-time heavyweight champion.

”We always come with a great game plan. They improvise and make everything right. As long as I go to the game plan, listen [to my coaches], we’ll be good… I think he’s [Jones] just good at what he does. He’s an artist! He knows how to mix it up. He knows how to keep a guy guessing him, you know? That’s why he’s done so well.”

Overall, Stipe Miocic is 20-4 in his mixed martial arts career with 14 of those wins coming by way of knockout. Miocic has held the heavyweight title on two separate occasions and defended it four times — more than any other heavyweight titleholder in UFC history.

Stipe Miocic

Stipe Miocic on Facing Jon Jones Over Aspinall: ‘It Wasn’t My Choice” for UFC 309

Stipe Miocic on Facing Jon Jones Over Aspinall: 'It Wasn't My Choice" for UFC 309Nearly three years removed from his last appearance inside the Octagon, Stipe Miocic returns on Saturday, November 16 for…

Stipe Miocic on Facing Jon Jones Over Aspinall: 'It Wasn't My Choice" for UFC 309

Nearly three years removed from his last appearance inside the Octagon, Stipe Miocic returns on Saturday, November 16 for a high-stakes heavyweight showdown with undisputed titleholder Jon Jones.

The last time fight fans saw the consensus heavyweight GOAT compete, he suffered a nasty second-round knockout loss against Francis Ngannou. Now, the Cleveland native is back and ready to retake the heavyweight crown when he meets ‘Bones’ in the UFC 309 headliner in Madison Square Garden.

Stipe Miocic

Much scrutiny has surrounded Miocic’s upcoming clash against Jones, much of it surrounding interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall who has been left by the wayside while the UFC continues to push Jones vs. Miocic.

After ‘Bones’ bowed out of his originally scheduled scrap with the two-time titleholder last November, an interim title was introduced at UFC 295 between Aspinall and Russian knockout artist Sergei Pavlovich. Aspinall won the bout via a 69-second KO and has since defended the interim belt against Curtis Blaydes while waiting for ‘Bones’ to recover and settle his business with Miocic before a potential unification clash.

Stipe Miocic

However, Miocic himself was the subject of some criticism after he chose to stand aside and let Aspinall fight Pavlovich instead of accepting the Brit as a replacement opponent for his scrapped scrap with Jones. Miocic has also been healthy this entire year, meaning he could have stepped up and fought Aspinall for the interim title instead.

Responding to some of that criticism during an interview with MMA Fighting, Miocic passed the buck to the UFC.

”It wasn’t my choice. It’s a fight I wanted, and the UFC gave it to me. They didn’t have to. They gave it to me” (h/t Sportskeeda).

Miocic did acknowledge that Aspinall is who the people want to see right now.

”[Tom Aspinall is] tough,” Miocic added. “He hits hard. Big boy. It’s what people want, he knocks people out.”

Stipe Miocic is confident in his game plan for jon jones

Regardless of the backlash, Stipe Miocic is looking forward to his return to MSG and is confident that he and his team have devised a game plan that will make him the UFC’s first-ever three-time heavyweight champion.

”We always come with a great game plan. They improvise and make everything right. As long as I go to the game plan, listen [to my coaches], we’ll be good… I think he’s [Jones] just good at what he does. He’s an artist! He knows how to mix it up. He knows how to keep a guy guessing him, you know? That’s why he’s done so well.”

Overall, Stipe Miocic is 20-4 in his mixed martial arts career with 14 of those wins coming by way of knockout. Miocic has held the heavyweight title on two separate occasions and defended it four times — more than any other heavyweight titleholder in UFC history.

Stipe Miocic

Photos: Two Years Later, Michael Chandler Returns to UFC Looking Absolutely Shredded

Photos Two Years Later, Michael Chandler Returns to UFC Looking Absolutely ShreddedMichael Chandler is absolutely shredded ahead of his highly anticipated return to the Octagon. After wasting two years of…

Photos Two Years Later, Michael Chandler Returns to UFC Looking Absolutely Shredded

Michael Chandler is absolutely shredded ahead of his highly anticipated return to the Octagon.

After wasting two years of his career waiting for a fight with Conor McGregor that never came to fruition, ‘Iron’ is ready to get back to work. He’ll do exactly that on Saturday, November 16 when he heads to Madison Square Garden for a rematch with former lightweight world champion Charles Oliveira.

Michael Chandler

With fight night closing in, the former Bellator titleholder offered fans a look at his chiseled physique in a post on social media. Chandler also shared the latest test results from UFC’s partners at Drug Free Sports International.

Michael Chandler

“We are pleased to inform you that [your urine sample] which you provided on 15th October 2024 returned a NEGATIVE result from the lab,” an email from the testing company read. “Thank you for your contribution in supporting a clean UFC.”

Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira likely vying for a lightweight title shot in 2025

Chandler will need more than muscle if he hopes to win his first fight since May 2022, especially against a well-rounded opponent like Charles Oliveira.

Squaring off with ‘Do Bronx’ at UFC 262, Chandler nearly came out on top after catching Oliveira early. Unfortunately, ‘Iron’ couldn’t finish the job and ultimately lost the fight in the opening seconds of the second round via TKO.

Michael Chandler

Despite losing three of his last four inside the Octagon, Chandler is still ranked in the lightweight top 10 and could skyrocket himself into the No. 2 spot with a big win over the Brazilian at MSG.

There is a good chance that the winner of Chandler vs. Oliveira 2 could be the next man up for reigning lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev, once the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ takes care of a bit of business with top-ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan.

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Michael Chandler Makes Bold Promise To Fans Ahead Of UFC 309 Return: ‘What You Will See…’

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler evidently isn’t worried about increasing the pressure on him to perform well next weekend. “Iron” will feel the Octagon floor beneath his feet for the first time in over two years on Nov. 16, when he co-headlines the UFC 309 pay-per-view inside New York City’s Madison Square Garden. The former […]

Continue Reading Michael Chandler Makes Bold Promise To Fans Ahead Of UFC 309 Return: ‘What You Will See…’ at MMA News.

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler evidently isn’t worried about increasing the pressure on him to perform well next weekend.

“Iron” will feel the Octagon floor beneath his feet for the first time in over two years on Nov. 16, when he co-headlines the UFC 309 pay-per-view inside New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

The former three-time Bellator champion spent 2023 and much of this year awaiting a planned showdown with Conor McGregor, whom he coached against on The Ultimate Fighter.

After plenty of rumored fight dates and one officially booked one passed by without the pair meeting inside the cage, Chandler finally decided to move on. That decision has left him with a chance for redemption opposite Charles Oliveira.

When the pair first met, “Do Bronx” mounted a memorable comeback to capture the then-vacant lightweight crown at UFC 262 in May 2022. 30 months on, the Kill Cliff FC standout is promising to avenge that result with a never-before-seen display.

“What you will see Nov. 16 will be something you have never seen from me,” Chandler wrote on X. “Something exceptional. Something mind blowing. Champ in 2025. #ufc309“

While both Chandler and UFC CEO Dana White haven’t ruled out revisiting the McGregor matchup in 2025, hopes of the Irishman making a return to the Octagon appear to be dwindling with every public appearance the former two-division champion makes.

And should “Iron” have his hand raised next weekend, he expects to be sitting behind Arman Tsarukyan as next in line for a shot at Islam Makhachev’s lightweight crown.

Continue Reading Michael Chandler Makes Bold Promise To Fans Ahead Of UFC 309 Return: ‘What You Will See…’ at MMA News.

Jon Jones is Mentoring a Future UFC Champion According to Fight Camp Coach

Jon Jones is Mentoring a Future UFC Champion According to Fight Camp CoachAs Jon Jones prepares for his first defense of the undisputed UFC heavyweight title, ‘Bones’ is taking some time…

Jon Jones is Mentoring a Future UFC Champion According to Fight Camp Coach

As Jon Jones prepares for his first defense of the undisputed UFC heavyweight title, ‘Bones’ is taking some time out of his busy schedule to help mold a future world champion.

18 months removed from a dominant first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane, Jones returns to the Octagon on Saturday, November 16 for a high-stakes headliner with consensus heavyweight GOAT Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden.

Jon Jones

It will be Jones’ first time defending the title and perhaps his final appearance inside the Octagon altogether, but that doesn’t mean Jones’ presence won’t live on through another potential MMA superstar.

During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Jones’s coach Brandon Gibson revealed that ‘Bones’ has been working with Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson.

“The sky is the limit for Gable, he’s a super athlete,” Gibson said of Steveson. “He walked on to the Buffalo Bills without ever playing football. Just in this past week, we’ve seen him in [the gym] boxing with mits, grappling, doing Jiu-Jitsu, ground-and-pound drills. He’s incredible, and I have no doubt that he could be a heavyweight champ.

“There’s a sense of pride I see in Jon Jones having some of these young greats come into the room, where Jon also wants to coach them and lift them up. Jon’s a heck of a teacher himself, so who knows? Maybe Jon Jones will be coaching Gable Steveson to UFC heavyweight glory one day” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Can Jon Jones help Steveson parlay his iconic wrestling career into a successful UFC run?

As a two-time NCAA Division I national champion and a three-time All-American out of the University of Minnesota, Steveson is one of the most accomplished freestyle wrestlers in the history of the sport.

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Since hanging up his singlet, the Portage, Indiana native has struggled to find a new career. In 2021, Steveson signed with World Wrestling Entertainment becoming only the second Olympic gold medalist to be signed by the company after Kurt Angle. Steveson made sporadic appearances on television and in untelevised matches under the NXT banner but was ultimately released from his contract in May 2024.

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That same month, Steveson signed a three-year deal with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills despite never having played the sport. He was released by the team three months later.

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Now, it looks like Steveson has his sights set on mixed martial arts.

Jon Jones’ Coach Approaching UFC 309 Camp Like It’s His ‘Last’

The coach of Jon Jones has further fueled retirement speculation ahead of the UFC heavyweight champion’s title defense this month. Jones is less than two weeks out from putting his gold on the line for the very first time 20 months on from winning it at the expense of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. The […]

Continue Reading Jon Jones’ Coach Approaching UFC 309 Camp Like It’s His ‘Last’ at MMA News.

The coach of Jon Jones has further fueled retirement speculation ahead of the UFC heavyweight champion’s title defense this month.

Jones is less than two weeks out from putting his gold on the line for the very first time 20 months on from winning it at the expense of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.

The delay in his clash with Stipe Miocic has been down to the injury “Bones” sustained weeks out from their scheduled battle at Madison Square Garden last November. A year later, the pair of UFC greats will give their matchup another go.

The decision to do so has received heavy scrutiny given the presence of an interim titleholder in Tom Aspinall. Jones has been heavily berated for avoiding a unification fight, and even if he emerges from UFC 309 next weekend with the title still in his possession, many are expecting him to continue to do so.

Jones has hinted at retiring following the Miocic fight numerous times this year. And while UFC CEO Dana White has suggested the Rochester native would continue as an active competitor to face the deserving next in line, the latest remarks out of his coach aren’t encouraging.

During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Brandon Gibson looked ahead to his man’s next assignment inside the Octagon, which headlines UFC 309 in New York City on Nov. 16.

On the topic of retirement, Gibson noted that he would fully back Jones should he decide to hang up his gloves, even going as far as to say he’s “ready” to see the former light heavyweight kingpin do so.

And with that in mind, the trainer has been approaching their latest camp as if it’s the final one.

“Whenever Jon’s ready (to retire), I’m right there with him. I’m approaching this one like it’s our last go, it’s our last rodeo,” Gibson said. “I think physically, mentally, he could go in there and have five or six more great performances. There’s nothing left for Jon to prove. I think he really wants this fight with Stipe. I think this fight will help solidify Jon’s status as that great heavyweight champion but it’s not something we talk about every night at the gym.

“We’re definitely all eyes on Nov. 16. But each time I go to a practice, I’m approaching it as this is my last camp. I’m giving it my all,” Gibson continued. “If we get one more after this, if we get two more, that would be a great blessing. I’m also ready to see Jon hang it up. Put the belt up. I’d prefer them to walk away obviously earlier than later. Out of all the fighters, Jon deserves to walk away any time he wants. I’m always going to support those guys.”

It remains to be seen whether Jones would following a triumph in MSG with a retirement, closing out his heavyweight stint with wins over Gane and Miocic.

But before even contemplating that, “Bones” must first get the better of a former champion widely branded the division’s greatest of all time. While he’s been widely counted out owing to his age and inactivity, Miocic plans on shocking the world come fight night in “The Big Apple.”

Continue Reading Jon Jones’ Coach Approaching UFC 309 Camp Like It’s His ‘Last’ at MMA News.