Stipe Miocic has made it crystal clear that he’s solely fascinated about returning to struggle Jon Jones, and all indicators level towards that matchup lastly taking place in November.
Miocic additionally lately argued that he’s not holding up the heavyweight division as a result of in the end it’s as much as UFC relating to no matter matchups get made.
The identical goes for Jones, who truly brought about the delay within the struggle in opposition to Miocic after he suffered a torn pectoral muscle that’s stored him out of motion for the previous 12 months. Whereas he’s not selected long run plans past that struggle, Jones nonetheless steadfastly needs Miocic subsequent, searching for so as to add arguably the best heavyweight in UFC historical past to his résumé.
Lately retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown actually doesn’t perceive the criticism aimed on the struggle, particularly given the accomplishments Jones and Miocic have of their respective careers.
“Issues transfer to quick and folks wish to see the subsequent huge factor immediately,” Brown stated on the newest episode of The Fighter vs. The Author. “They’re two legends. They each should struggle one another. They each deserve that huge struggle. We’re all going to observe it if it occurs. All of the haters, all of the blowback folks, they’re all going to f*cking watch it. We’re all going to wish to watch it. That’s who they need to every be preventing. That’s the proper struggle to make. It simply occurred to be taking method longer than it ought to be taking. It ought to have occurred a 12 months in the past, however right here we’re.
“Let the 2 struggle, allow them to have their legend struggle. They’ve each completed as a lot as anyone might think about them doing on this sport. What else would you like? Let the fellows exit on a legendary struggle. Allow them to f*cking struggle. Allow them to make some cash. Hell, purchase the pay-per-view to help them so that they do make more cash. Let’s transfer on. I believe it’s an superior factor. I believe it’s an excellent factor. F*cking two nice fighters, allow them to f*cking struggle.”
Maybe the most important sticking level revolving round Miocic getting this chance is his prolonged layoff with no struggle since 2021. So as to add to that, his final look resulted in a vicious knockout by the hands of Francis Ngannou that price him the UFC heavyweight title.
After all, Miocic gained’t be the primary champion to get a direct title shot off a loss.
Whereas he hasn’t been out practically as lengthy, Israel Adesanya is about to obtain that very same alternative after dropping a lopsided struggle to Sean Strickland. Adesanya is now set to face Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight belt at UFC 305 in August. There are quite a few different examples of established previous champions receiving particular consideration like this.
So far as Miocic returning when he’s 42 years outdated, Brown thinks age would undoubtedly matter extra if Miocic was making an attempt to win a title as a bantamweight, however that’s not the case right here.
“Look, I’m 43, I do know what it feels wish to be 43. I really feel nearly as good as I ever have,” Brown stated. “I’m only a lot larger, however Stipe is a heavyweight so I believe he’s going to be effective. How outdated was Randy Couture when he got here again and gained the title? Heavyweight is totally different. It’s not a pace sport. It’s not as a lot of a response sport.
“Now, Jon isn’t a gradual man, so Stipe goes to want his reactions nearly as good as they are often, but it surely’s not the identical sport. If you happen to’re a 135-, 145-, 155-pounder, being 43 years outdated goes to be an issue. You must be fast. However once you’re a heavyweight, I don’t assume it’s as huge of a distinction. If Stipe’s staying wholesome, coaching, I believe he’s going to place up an excellent struggle and I believe he’ll do nice.”
Heavyweight has historically been the oldest division within the sport relating to the highest tier fighters.
Out of the present top-15 UFC rankings, the youngest fighter on the checklist is Serghei Spivac at 29. He’s the one ranked heavyweight nonetheless in his 20s, with only some youthful than 35.
Day without work may be the larger concern for Miocic, however even that will not have an effect on him the identical method it will a fighter in a lighter division, as a result of heavyweights solely want one shot to land to utterly alter the route of struggle. That’s precisely how Miocic reclaimed his heavyweight title after dropping nearly all of his rematch in opposition to Daniel Cormier earlier than turning the tide within the later rounds and scoring a knockout.
“There’s simply not the identical pace and response factor [at heavyweight],” Brown stated. “You don’t transfer the identical. There’s not those self same fast, jerky actions. I believe they’ll be effective. I’d like to nonetheless see the struggle. I don’t know the place the hate’s coming from.”
Brown additionally disagrees with the concept Jones is someway sullying his popularity as champion by ready for Miocic reasonably than dealing with interim champion Tom Aspinall or one other ranked heavyweight as a substitute.
Jones has stated time and time once more that he views Miocic because the form of opponent that actually provides to his already legendary résumé, whereas much less established fighters simply don’t carry the identical weight as a result of they haven’t completed as a lot.
Prefer it or not, Brown understands Jones’ intentions, and he believes Jones has completed sufficient to name a couple of photographs this late in his profession.
“I get it, individuals are complaining that Jon isn’t constructing his résumé at heavyweight,” Brown stated. “I get Stipe’s been out for 3 years, however that’s not Jon’s objective. He’s acknowledged it very clearly. He’s like, ‘I’ve already completed all of it.’ When he stated it, you’ve acquired to imagine what he stated. I don’t bear in mind his precise phrases, but it surely’s merely not his objective to make a run via the heavyweight division. He did it at 205. Did it for a very long time. Did it very effectively. Now he’s doing legacy fights.
“To be truthful, I’d like to see him do all that. I’d like to see him do a run at heavyweight, however he doesn’t need to. He’s not going to go down in historical past as the best heavyweight champion. I believe he’s principally already acknowledged he’s effective with that. He’s going to go down as one of many best, if not the best MMA fighter of all-time. He doesn’t need to do it heavyweight.”
