Tag: UFC Heavyweight

Stipe Miocic Shrugs Off Critics Ahead Of Jon Jones Fight At UFC 309

Stipe Miocic seems indifferent to criticism leading up to his title showdown with Jon Jones at UFC 309. Miocic is gearing up to challenge reigning UFC heavyweight champion Jones in his bid for a third title shot, with the bout set to take place on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. […]

Continue Reading Stipe Miocic Shrugs Off Critics Ahead Of Jon Jones Fight At UFC 309 at MMA News.

Stipe Miocic seems indifferent to criticism leading up to his title showdown with Jon Jones at UFC 309.

Miocic is gearing up to challenge reigning UFC heavyweight champion Jones in his bid for a third title shot, with the bout set to take place on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

In the lead-up to this highly anticipated bout, the former UFC heavyweight champion has faced a barrage of scrutiny for securing a fight against “Bones” after a lengthy hiatus of over three years. Meanwhile, interim titleholder Tom Aspinall remains on the sidelines, waiting for his opportunity at a championship unification clash.

During an interview with MMA Fighting, Miocic responded to the criticism surrounding his UFC 309 return, emphasizing that fight bookings ultimately rest with the UFC and are entirely out of his hands.

The 42-year-old Ohio native acknowledged that a Jones vs. Aspinall matchup would be huge, yet he believes his own showdown with Jones is the fight fans truly wanted to see.

“It wasn’t my choice,” Miocic said. “It’s a fight I wanted, and the UFC gave it to me. They didn’t have to. They gave it to me. I believe so [there’s a reason why it’s happening]. I believe people want to see that. I think a lot more people want to see the fight than him fight Aspinall. [Aspinall is] tough. He hits hard. Big boy. It’s what people want, he knocks people out.”

Miocic further shared that there was a time when the noise from naysayers might have gotten under his skin, but now he brushes it off without a second thought.

“I don’t listen to anything on the outside. I used to when I was younger, when I started I was like why would you say that? How dare you? I was real sensitive. I literally stopped caring anymore. I don’t care what anyone says. I really don’t care.”

Miocic has been out of action since his title loss to Francis Ngannou, who defeated him with a second-round knockout at UFC 260 in March 2021.

Originally slated for a comeback at UFC 295 in November 2023, Miocic’s return was delayed when Jones sustained a torn pectoral tendon just weeks before the anticipated showdown, leading to the bout’s postponement.

Continue Reading Stipe Miocic Shrugs Off Critics Ahead Of Jon Jones Fight At UFC 309 at MMA News.

Former Opponent On Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic: ‘Not Bigger, Not Stronger, Striking Not Better!’

One of Jon Jones’ former opponents recently articulated his thoughts on the reigning UFC heavyweight champion’s upcoming matchup against Stipe Miocic. Jones is set to put his undisputed title on the line against former long-time champion Miocic in the main event of UFC 309, scheduled for November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York […]

Continue Reading Former Opponent On Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic: ‘Not Bigger, Not Stronger, Striking Not Better!’ at MMA News.

One of Jon Jones’ former opponents recently articulated his thoughts on the reigning UFC heavyweight champion’s upcoming matchup against Stipe Miocic.

Jones is set to put his undisputed title on the line against former long-time champion Miocic in the main event of UFC 309, scheduled for November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

This matchup has ignited a whirlwind of debate, with UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall repeatedly calling for a title unification bout. Despite these appeals, ‘Bones’ has remained firmly committed to facing Miocic. Jones’ adamant stance has provoked discontent among many fans, who argue that he is stalling the division and deliberately avoiding a showdown with Aspinall.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion has frequently expressed that facing Miocic is his dream fight and the primary reason for his move up to the heavyweight division. Jones has also alluded to the idea that defeating a legend like Miocic would be the final crowning achievement in his already stellar career, suggesting that after adding such a victory to his record, he may hang up his gloves.

However, Vitor Belfort believes that a fight against Miocic brings a lot of risk.

Belfort Thinks Miocic Has The Upper Hand Against Jones At UFC 309

During a recent interview with Inside Fighting, ‘The Phenom,’ who lost to Jones at UFC 152 in September 2012, shared his insights on the headlining bout of UFC 309. Belfort asserted that this matchup poses more risks than rewards for “Bones”, arguing that Jones would be tested to his limit against the 42-year-old veteran.

“If I can give any advice to Jon Jones, it’s to not fight him [Aspinall] because there is nothing to gain from that fight for Jon Jones,” Belfort said. “Jon Jones is going to have the greatest career. Let’s say he beats Miocic, which I think is going to be very hard. I love Jon Jones, and I think he has an amazing career, but you know, a lot of people think he’s bigger than Stipe Miocic. No, he’s not bigger, he’s not stronger, and his striking is not better than Stipe Miocic. Stipe Miocic is a great boxer; he can wrestle and he can grapple.”

Belfort also suggested that Jones is doing the right thing in not fighting Aspinall, as he poses a significant threat to the champion.

“Aspinall is a different beast. He’s so young; I mean, he’s the new generation—very dangerous, very explosive, very athletic. I don’t think unless Jon Jones is going to make millions of dollars. But I mean, if I’m Jon Jones, I would ask, ‘Why are you fighting him? If you win, cut it out, go retire, and be the best guy of all time.’ I’m thinking he would be the Tom Brady of MMA.”

Continue Reading Former Opponent On Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic: ‘Not Bigger, Not Stronger, Striking Not Better!’ at MMA News.

Jake Paul Tries To Broker Multi-Million Dollar Payday For “Bones” To Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Jon Jones Doesn’t Dodge Anyone’

Jake Paul recently attempted to broker a multi-million dollar deal to entice Jon Jones into a showdown with Tom Aspinall. Since capturing the interim heavyweight title with a knockout victory over Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 in November 2023—an opportunity that arose after “Bones” had to withdraw from his undisputed title clash with Stipe Miocic […]

Continue Reading Jake Paul Tries To Broker Multi-Million Dollar Payday For “Bones” To Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Jon Jones Doesn’t Dodge Anyone’ at MMA News.

Jake Paul recently attempted to broker a multi-million dollar deal to entice Jon Jones into a showdown with Tom Aspinall.

Since capturing the interim heavyweight title with a knockout victory over Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 in November 2023—an opportunity that arose after “Bones” had to withdraw from his undisputed title clash with Stipe Miocic due to injury—Aspinall has been unabashedly outspoken about his desire to test himself against Jones in a title unification bout.

However, Jones has consistently dismissed the challenge, even going so far as to disparage Aspinall’s standing as the interim champion. Rather than entertain a clash with Aspinall, the reigning heavyweight titleholder has made it clear that his sights are set on rekindling his bout with Miocic, a showdown that is rumored to headline UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden this November.

“Bones” has frequently hinted at the prospect of retirement after defeating a legendary heavyweight champion like Miocic, thereby cementing his GOAT status. Many speculate that this might be why Jones is hesitant to risk his legacy against a formidable contender like Aspinall.

However, “The Problem Child” suggests that the real reason Jones is sidestepping the Brit’s challenge is the lack of a lucrative payday on the table…

Paul Claims Jones Would Accept Aspinall Bout If The Paycheck Fits

Paul, well-known for his frequent critiques of UFC fighter pay, recently took to X to refute the narrative that Jones is avoiding a fight with Aspinall. The YouTuber-turned-boxer argued that Jones isn’t one to shy away from any opponent but suggested that the real issue lies in the financial incentive.

He believes that if the right financial deal is presented, tapping into both the American and English pay-per-view (PPV) markets, Jones would be more than willing to step into the Octagon with Aspinall.

“Jon Jones doesn’t dodge anyone. He knows exactly what he’s doing,” Paul tweeted. “Show him the money – that real money. Not that spin the narrative money. Him versus Aspinal is massive as it hits two big PPV markets. A $25M guarantee plus PPV seems about right. @JonnyBones”

During a post-event press conference for DWCS, UFC CEO Dana White suggested that, despite Jones’s occasional talk of retirement, he is confident that “if the Aspinall thing is really flying out there,” Jones would rise to the occasion and accept the matchup.

Continue Reading Jake Paul Tries To Broker Multi-Million Dollar Payday For “Bones” To Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Jon Jones Doesn’t Dodge Anyone’ at MMA News.

Tom Aspinall: Stipe Miocic Needs To Be ‘Joe Biden’d’ To Allow Title Unification Against Jon Jones

Tom Aspinall is pushing for Stipe Miocic to be replaced in his potential bout with Jon Jones, much like Joe Biden was swapped out in the 2024 United States Presidential election. For context, Biden stepped out of the presidential race in July following a challenging debate against Republican nominee Donald Trump, which raised significant scrutiny […]

Continue Reading Tom Aspinall: Stipe Miocic Needs To Be ‘Joe Biden’d’ To Allow Title Unification Against Jon Jones at MMA News.

Tom Aspinall is pushing for Stipe Miocic to be replaced in his potential bout with Jon Jones, much like Joe Biden was swapped out in the 2024 United States Presidential election.

For context, Biden stepped out of the presidential race in July following a challenging debate against Republican nominee Donald Trump, which raised significant scrutiny about the sitting President’s mental readiness for another term.

Amid mounting pressure for the UFC to cancel Miocic’s planned title shot against the reigning heavyweight champion, UFC CEO Dana White has made it clear that the fight is still on. White has resolutely stood by his decision to reschedule the matchup, which was originally set for November 2023 at UFC 295 but had to be postponed after “Bones” suffered a serious pectoral injury.

Consequently, Aspinall capitalized on the opportunity at UFC 295, stepping in to claim the interim heavyweight title with a knockout of Sergei Pavlovich. The 31-year-old Salford native has eagerly called for a title unification bout against Jones. However, “Bones” has consistently dismissed the challenge, showing more interest in rebooking his showdown with Miocic instead.

The British powerhouse then defended his interim title against Curtis Blaydes with a first-round knockout at UFC 304, avenging his only UFC defeat. Following this triumph, Aspinall made it clear that his sights are set solely on a title unification bout as his next challenge…

Aspinall Targets Miocic’s Slot In Upcoming Jones Fight

During a recent interview with TNT Sports, Aspinall suggested that Miocic should follow Biden’s lead and step aside for the upcoming title clash against Jones, which is expected to take place at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 16.

“Get Stipe out of there; let’s be honest. The guy is 43 years old, he’s had a four-year layoff, and his last fight was a knockout loss,” Aspinall said. “Granted, he’s an absolute legend in this sport. He’s the best heavyweight ever — like statistically, he’s the best heavyweight ever. But the guy needs to be pulled out of the race. The guy needs to be Joe Biden’d, mate. He’s too old. No one’s that interested anymore. And I respect Stipe a lot. Pull him out, stick me in. It’s right though, isn’t it? It is right. Who’s got bothered about that anymore?”

Miocic is set to turn 42 on August 19. The former two-time UFC heavyweight champion was seen in action in March 2021, when he lost his title in a crushing second-round knockout defeat to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260.

Meanwhile, Jones last graced the Octagon at UFC 285 in March 2023, where he captured the heavyweight title with a dominant submission victory over Ciryl Gane.

Continue Reading Tom Aspinall: Stipe Miocic Needs To Be ‘Joe Biden’d’ To Allow Title Unification Against Jon Jones at MMA News.

UFC Interim Champ Tom Aspinall On Whether He Expects ‘Tricky, Slimy, & Snaky’ Jon Jones To Ever Fight Him

Tom Aspinall recently admitted he is uncertain whether he will ever have the opportunity to face Jon Jones in the Octagon. Following his dazzling performance in front of his home crowd at UFC 304, where he knocked out Curtis Blaydes in just 60 seconds to secure his third consecutive knockout victory, the Brit continued to […]

Continue Reading UFC Interim Champ Tom Aspinall On Whether He Expects ‘Tricky, Slimy, & Snaky’ Jon Jones To Ever Fight Him at MMA News.

Tom Aspinall recently admitted he is uncertain whether he will ever have the opportunity to face Jon Jones in the Octagon.

Following his dazzling performance in front of his home crowd at UFC 304, where he knocked out Curtis Blaydes in just 60 seconds to secure his third consecutive knockout victory, the Brit continued to campaign for a title unification bout against the reigning UFC heavyweight champion. However, Jones has persistently rebuffed the challenge, going so far as to undermine Aspinall’s position as the interim champion.

Aspinall is the current interim heavyweight titleholder, a title he claimed at UFC 295 in November 2023 after “Bones” was forced to pull out of his matchup with Stipe Miocic due to a torn pectoral muscle. Ideally, the 31-year-old Salford native would be gearing up for an undisputed championship bout later this year. Instead, he remains on the periphery, while Jones is expected to face Miocic in a fight targeted for November.

During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Aspinall was asked about the possibility of ever facing “Bones.” The interim champ voiced his uncertainty and raised doubts about Jones’ intentions, questioning whether he will actually go through with the fight against Miocic.

“I have no idea. I like to think he would, but we don’t know at this point if Jon Jones is even fighting Stipe. We have no idea,” Aspinall said. “Jon Jones is a bit of an unusual guy; you don’t see what you get with Jones, and you don’t get what you see. He’s tricky, slimy, and snaky—he does different movements. He says one thing and does another. So I don’t know. I have no idea, to be honest.”

Aspinall Opens Up About Serving As Backup for A Possible Jones-Miocic Clash

At the UFC 304 post-event press conference, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Aspinall will serve as the backup fighter in case either Jones or Miocic is unable to step into the Octagon.

In the aforementioned interview, Aspinall expressed his eagerness to step in as the backup and asserted his confidence and readiness in his abilities to defeat both Jones and Miocic, even on a day’s notice.

“Yep, I’ll be there. I’ll do that, and I’d fight those guys on an hour’s notice if they needed me to. Listen, mate, I can beat both of these guys, no problem. If I’ve got to do it on a day’s notice, I can do it easily, so I’ll be there to take my opportunity if it presents itself.”

The possibility of a Jones vs. Aspinall showdown is captivating the MMA community, yet its realization appears remote. Jones remains resolute in his intention to face Miocic upon his return and has even suggested that he might retire after that fight.

Continue Reading UFC Interim Champ Tom Aspinall On Whether He Expects ‘Tricky, Slimy, & Snaky’ Jon Jones To Ever Fight Him at MMA News.

Winner Of Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes At UFC 304 Touted To Be Long-Reigning Heavyweight Champion: ‘He Kind Of Cruises A Little Bit’

Daniel Cormier and Anthony Smith recently shared their belief that the victor of the Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 is destined to dominate the heavyweight division for years to come. Aspinall is set to run it back with Blaydes to defend his UFC interim heavyweight championship in the co-headliner of the upcoming […]

Continue Reading Winner Of Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes At UFC 304 Touted To Be Long-Reigning Heavyweight Champion: ‘He Kind Of Cruises A Little Bit’ at MMA News.

Daniel Cormier and Anthony Smith recently shared their belief that the victor of the Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 is destined to dominate the heavyweight division for years to come.

Aspinall is set to run it back with Blaydes to defend his UFC interim heavyweight championship in the co-headliner of the upcoming pay-per-view event, scheduled for this Saturday at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, United Kingdom.

The two fighters previously crossed paths two years ago in the main event of UFC Fight Night London in July 2022. In that bout, “Razor” emerged victorious with a 15-second TKO after the Brit sustained an unfortunate knee injury.

Aspinall had hoped to unify his belt after knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 with heavyweight champion Jon Jones. However, realizing that a bout with “Bones” is unlikely due to Jones’s determination to face Stipe Miocic next, potentially the last fight of both their careers, Aspinall chose to pivot. Embracing the situation, he decided to defend his interim title instead.

According to Cormier and Smith, the upcoming rematch between Aspinall and Blaydes is set to determine the future kingpin of the heavyweight division…

Cormier Declares Aspinall vs Blaydes Interim Title Fight As True Championship Bout

During a recent video on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel, Cormier and Smith delved into the upcoming rematch between Aspinall and Blaydes. “DC” emphasized that the exceptional skill levels and challenging styles of both fighters make this bout the one that will ultimately reveal the true heavyweight champion.

“There’s a lot of confidence in Tom Aspinall as he holds the interim championship, which I believe is the actual heavyweight championship of the world,” Cormier said. “Because I think he’ll be more active than Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic.”

“Lionheart” echoed Cormier’s sentiment, suggesting that with Jones and Miocic nearing the end of their careers, Aspinall and Blaydes are poised to take over and dominate the heavyweight division for the foreseeable future.

“I totally agree, and I think that the fact that these guys are fighting now almost solidifies a long title run in my mind,” Smith said. “I think these two guys are the hardest matchups for each other. They’re both big, they’re both physical, both crazy athletic for their size, and both of them can wrestle… I think Curtis beats Aspinall, he kind of cruises for a little bit, and if Aspinall beats Curtis, he absolutely cruises for a little bit.”

During the pre-fight press conference on Thursday, UFC CEO Dana White said that the winner of the Aspinall vs. Blaydes bout will go on to challenge the winner of the Jones vs. Miocic showdown, which is rumored to take place in November.

Continue Reading Winner Of Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes At UFC 304 Touted To Be Long-Reigning Heavyweight Champion: ‘He Kind Of Cruises A Little Bit’ at MMA News.