When Jon Jones made fast work of Ciryl Gane again in 2023, former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic was entrance and heart to look at all of it occur.
He might not have identified it on the time however Miocic instantly took heart stage following that struggle when Jones referred to as him out because the opponent he most wished to face subsequent. After all, Miocic gladly accepted as a result of the possibility to reclaim the heavyweight title whereas going up in opposition to arguably the best fighter of all-time was too attractive the move up.
“He’s good at what he does,” Miocic stated about Jones when chatting with MMA Combating. “He’s an artist. He is aware of easy methods to combine it up. He is aware of easy methods to maintain a man guessing. That’s why he’s performed so properly.
“one hundred pc [mutual respect]. I believe he’s an ideal fighter. I believe he feels the identical about me. We’re not going to really feel the identical manner as soon as we contact gloves. However we all know it’s going to be a present. We’re going to placed on a superb present.”
As dominant has Jones was at 205 kilos, it’s nonetheless just a little harder to evaluate him as a heavyweight with just one struggle on his resume after spending lower than 4 minutes within the cage with Gane.
Miocic was completely impressed by that efficiency however he additionally is aware of he’s a a lot totally different animal with a confirmed monitor document in comparison with any person like Gane. With a collegiate wrestling background mixed with quick fingers and brutal knockout energy, Miocic isn’t cocky however he is aware of he’s going to provide Jones the sorts of issues he’s by no means confronted earlier than, particularly at heavyweight.
“He did what he was presupposed to do [against Ciryl Gane],” Miocic stated. “He bought the win. I didn’t see a lot as a result of it didn’t go that lengthy. He did all the things he was presupposed to and bought the win.
“I don’t suppose he has [been tested at heavyweight] however he’s fought one of the best on the planet. However I’m totally different. He’ll discover out. I’m going to the touch that chin. I promise you that.”
In some ways, Jones is a puzzle that’s by no means been solved and the proof to that reality stands together with his almost unblemished resume minus one disqualification loss in a struggle he was successful handily.
Just a few fighters have come near beating Jones previously, normally in shut choices, however he’s by no means actually been damage to the purpose the place a end appeared attainable. Miocic hopes to vary that on Saturday night time.
“I’ve bought one of the best coaches, we’re engaged on all the things,” Miocic stated. “We’re engaged on each scenario. I believe that we’ll be prepared. I do know we’ll be prepared. I’ve one of the best coaches on the planet. I wouldn’t be right here right now if it wasn’t for them.
“I don’t need any excuses. I’m not going to make any excuses. I’m coaching my ass off. I’m right here to struggle and I’m right here to win. I’m going to win.”
Maybe the largest query surrounding Miocic heading into the struggle is his return to motion after sitting out for over three years together with his earlier look ending in a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou again in 2021.
In an ideal world, Miocic would have returned a lot sooner nevertheless it simply wasn’t within the playing cards for him after hoping he’d get a trilogy with Ngannou after which one other year-long delay occurred on account of Jones’ harm.
For all of the issues about his break day between fights, Miocic guarantees that he’s been working simply as exhausting as ever earlier than and if something, the prolonged break has really allowed him to heal up, add a number of new weapons to his arsenal and are available again higher than ever.
“There’s no query [I’m better],” Miocic stated. “I do know I’ve been [better than before]. I’m quicker. I’m stronger. I’ve extra of my instruments. I’ve sharpened them and realized extra. I’ll be prepared, no query.
“I believe the break day undoubtedly is [good]. Individuals may not suppose that, the critics, however I don’t actually care. I do know the place I’m at and I do know what I’ve performed.”
Miocic enters the struggle as an enormous underdog, as a lot as 7-to-1 based mostly on some betting strains, that are the largest odds in opposition to him throughout his whole profession.
None of that bothers him a lot as a result of Miocic has been right here earlier than and he expects the sheer variety of folks counting him out will solely make it that a lot sweeter when he wins.
“It’s nothing new,’ Miocic stated. “There’s a number of instances [I’ve been the underdog]. The primary Francis struggle I used to be an underdog. [Fabricio] Werdum, I used to be the underdog. I believe [Junior dos Santos] I used to be the underdog. Quite a lot of fights I used to be the underdog. I’ll be high quality.”
Miocic isn’t massive on predictions however he undoubtedly is aware of how he needs the struggle to finish as a result of he’s already visualized it tons of of instances.
No person might imagine he can do it proper now however the 42-year-old Ohio native vows to shock the world when he lastly faces Jones at UFC 309.
“After all [I want to win] with a knockout,” Miocic stated. “There’s no query. [I’ve visualized it] on repeat. Prepare to listen to ‘and new.’ I promise you that.”
