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 struggle solely. The 2 are actually seeking to lastly matchup in opposition to one another in November, and whereas the bout has acquired an rising quantity of backlash just lately, White isn’t having it.
“What do I do?” White mentioned 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 struggle 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 can 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 obtained harm and never make the struggle that he was already imagined to struggle?”
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 biggest 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 at present ranked heavyweights in that point, together with his quick discover to struggle 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 underneath these circumstances, White remained adamant that this was the one lifelike method to deal with this state of affairs.
“I’ve two legends of the game that needed to struggle one another,” White mentioned. “These guys are lined up, one man will get harm, and that is the struggle 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 will likely be Stipe’s final struggle. So are you, the media, telling me I ought to simply inform Stipe to f*ck off? ‘Good luck to you Stipe, trip off into the sundown, go struggle some fires and that’s a wrap for you buddy, as a result of Jon obtained harm.’ Or do I present this man the respect that I ought to present him and provides them each the struggle 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 most likely Stipe’s final struggle, win or lose, and I’m not going to disrespect the man. He accepted the struggle, he was prepared for the struggle, and Jon obtained injured.”
In fact 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 ultimately, he’ll get his flip.
“Aspinall’s a younger, badass dude,” White mentioned. “He’s obtained loads of time. These guys are going to struggle in November and he’ll struggle Jon Jones if he wins, I nearly 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.
