UFC CEO Dana White isn’t backing down on ready for Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic.
Jones and Miocic had been initially imagined to face off for the heavyweight title in the principle occasion of UFC 295 in November 2023. However shortly earlier than the occasion, Jones suffered a torn pectoral muscle that compelled him from the cardboard, and as a substitute of getting backup fighter Sergei Pavlovich step in in opposition to Miocic, the UFC opted to postpone the combat totally. The 2 at the moment are seeking to lastly matchup in opposition to one another in November, and whereas the bout has obtained an growing quantity of backlash just lately, White isn’t having it.
“What do I do?” White said to the media following the most recent episode of The Contender Collection. “A man who’s checked out as the best heavyweight within the UFC, this combat is about up, Jon Jones will get harm, it’s not his fault. He has to attend and return into f*cking coaching camp once more. He was coaching. So do I simply yank it away from Stipe and say go f*ck your self and sit on the sidelines for 2 extra years?
“If I did that, you guys could be like, ‘Oh, you f*cking disrespected the best heavyweight ever!’ and so would the f*cking followers. So I ought to simply shit on Stipe as a result of Jon bought harm and never make the combat that he was already imagined to combat?”
The rising criticism to the Jones-Miocic matchup comes each from the rise of interim champion Tom Aspinall and Miocic’s latest historical past. Although Miocic is taken into account one of many best heavyweights of all time, the 42-year-old has not competed in over three years, when he was brutally knocked out by Francis Ngannou, and holds no wins over present UFC fighters. In distinction, Aspinall has 5 wins over presently ranked heavyweights in that point, together with his brief discover to combat for an interim title when the UFC postponed Jones-Miocic at UFC 295.
However when reporters pushed again on Miocic being given a title shot beneath these circumstances, White remained adamant that this was the one life like method to deal with this state of affairs.
“I’ve two legends of the game that wished to combat one another,” White stated. “These guys are lined up, one man will get harm, and that is the combat that they each need. What do you do? You don’t present the fellows the respect? I assure you this, if Stipe wins, Stipe goes to retire. This can be Stipe’s final combat. So are you, the media, telling me I ought to simply inform Stipe to f*ck off? ‘Good luck to you Stipe, journey off into the sundown, go combat some fires and that’s a wrap for you buddy, as a result of Jon bought harm.’ Or do I present this man the respect that I ought to present him and provides them each the combat that they need? That’s the place I’m in.
“If Stipe was 32 years outdated, then yeah, [an interim title fight] might be what we do. However that is in all probability Stipe’s final combat, win or lose, and I’m not going to disrespect the man. He accepted the combat, he was prepared for the combat, and Jon bought injured.”
After all that’s chilly consolation for Aspinall, who has lobbied for a shot on the undisputed title since successful the interim belt. However White says that finally, he’ll get his flip.
“Aspinall’s a younger, badass dude,” White stated. “He’s bought loads of time. These guys are going to combat in November and he’ll combat Jon Jones if he wins, I virtually assure you that. And if Stipe wins, we’ll determine what’s subsequent for Aspinall.”
Although not but official, Jones and Miocic are anticipated to face off in the principle occasion at UFC 309 which takes place on Nov. 16 at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis.
Trending Merchandise
