Stipe Miocic is strolling away from the octagon.
In the primary occasion of UFC 309, Miocic misplaced a one-sided battle to heavyweight champion Jon Jones in a failed bid to assert that title for a 3rd time. The 42-year-old veteran was practically completed by Jones’ ground-and-pound and Spherical 1, however made it to the third spherical the place Jones put him away with a surprising spin kick to the physique.
After the battle, UFC commentator Joe Rogan spoke to Miocic and requested him what may be subsequent for him. Miocic answered, in no unsure phrases, that he was retiring.
“I’m completed,” Miocic stated. “I’m hanging them up. I’m retiring. Thank God.”
Watch Miocic’s post-fight interview beneath.
The announcement was unsurprising given Miocic’s inactivity lately. Miocic’s most up-to-date battle earlier than UFC 309 passed off in March 2021 and his most up-to-date win was in August 2020, over 4 years in the past.
Miocic advised Rogan that that they had really ready for the maneuver that ended the battle, however that he didn’t execute within the second.
“It sucked, I misplaced,” Miocic stated. “He’s actually powerful. I knew he was actually good, he’s among the best of all time. He got here sturdy, exhausting kicks, I felt good. That spinning kick we labored on, I simply mis-blocked it and it caught me within the ribs.”
Miocic (20-5) retire with the file for probably the most consecutive profitable UFC heavyweight championship defenses (3) and probably the most whole defenses of that title (4). His UFC run contains wins over elite competitors, together with Daniel Cormier, Francis Ngannou, Junior dos Santos, Fabricio Werdum, Alistair Overeem, and Andrei Arlovski.
The 14-year veteran regarded removed from his finest on Saturday, although he refused to make any excuses for his efficiency.
“I anticipated all the things,” Miocic stated. “I simply didn’t do what I used to be imagined to do. Congratulations to him, he did what he was imagined to do and he received. Hats off to him, I would like nothing however one of the best for him.”
