Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic believes most followers need to see him battle Jon Jones.
The 42-year-old hasn’t been seen within the cage since a second-round knockout loss to Francis Ngannou in early 2021. Because of the harmful nature of the defeat, some assumed Stipe Miocic would by no means battle once more. Nonetheless, over three years later, he’s set to return at UFC 309 reverse Jon Jones.
Nonetheless, the title shot is controversial to some. Whereas few would doubt Stipe Miocic’s place as one of many biggest UFC heavyweights of all-time, there’s presently an interim champion by the title of Tom Aspinall. The Brit gained the gold final November with a knockout win over Sergei Pavlovich and stopped Curtis Blaydes in July.
Because the announcement of Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, Tom Aspinall has been on a warpath. The interim UFC heavyweight champion has repeatedly slammed each males. Moreover, Aspinall has argued that almost all followers would relatively see him battle ‘Bones’ than the 42-year-old former champion. He additionally intends to attend the occasion in New York Metropolis later this month.
RELATED: STIPE MIOCIC QUIETS TALK OF RETIREMENT AHEAD OF UFC 309 RETURN: “RIGHT NOW I’M JUST GOING TO WORRY ABOUT THE FIGHT”
Stipe Miocic pushes again in opposition to Tom Aspinall heading into UFC 309 battle with Jon Jones
Nonetheless, Stipe Miocic has to disagree with the interim champion’s feedback. Talking in a latest interview with MMA Combating, the UFC heavyweight contender was requested a few potential Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall battle. There, Miocic famous that he’s not the matchmaker, however he additionally understands why they gave him the title shot over the Brit.
“It wasn’t my selection,” Stipe Miocic acknowledged within the interview forward of his return in opposition to Jon Jones. “It’s a battle I needed, and the UFC gave it to me. They didn’t must. They gave it to me. I imagine so [there’s a reason why it’s happening]. I imagine folks need to see that, I believe much more folks need to see the battle than him battle Aspinall. [But, Tom Aspinall] is hard. He hits exhausting.” (h/t MMA Combating)
He continued, “[He’s a] large boy. It’s what folks need, he knocks folks out… I don’t hearken to something on the skin. I used to once I was youthful. After I began, I used to be like, ‘Why would you say that? How dare you?’. I used to be actual delicate. I actually stopped caring anymore, I don’t care what anybody says, I don’t actually care.”
What do you make of those feedback from the previous UFC champion? Would you relatively see Jon Jones battle Stipe Miocic or Tom Aspinall?