Dana White’s ‘Target’ for Jon Jones’ Return Confirmed as Rival Stipe Miocic Gives Inside Scoop

Just hours after current UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones announced his highly anticipated return to the octagon and a fight against former champion Stipe Miocic on social media, Miocic provided an update on the matchup in a recent interview.

Stipe Miocic and Jon Jones were originally supposed to fight back in November 2023. However, Jones suffered an injury that forced him out of the slated event, UFC 295. Eventually, the event took place without him, but Jones was waiting for the right opportunity, which now seems to have arrived. According to Jones’ post on X, “November 9th, Madison Square Garden, I know it seems like a dream but it’s really happening.”

In an interview with the YouTube channel SHAK MMA, hosted by Shakiel Mahjouri, when asked about the specific date in November mentioned by Jon Jones in his tweet, Stipe Miocic left everything to Dana White and the UFC. He replied, “Yeah, I think that’s what they were talking about too, New York again. But like I said, that’s what they’re targeting, but it’s not 100%.”

Article continues below this ad

via Imago

Poll of the dayWho do you think will win the Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fight?

Then the host further pressured Stipe Miocic to reveal the date, but Miocic played it smart and did not reveal all of his cards, saying, “I mean, I don’t know. We’ll see. Honestly, I don’t know. I’m just going to keep training, and we’ll see what happens, you know.” In the same interview, Miocic also talked about Tom Aspinall, who had continuously called out Jones in the past.

Article continues below this ad

Stipe Miocic expresses sympathy for Tom AspinallAfter Jon Jones had to step aside due to injury in November 2023, Stipe Miocic was pulled out by the UFC to reserve him for the title fight. Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich stepped in to fill the void at UFC 295. However, Aspinall was not happy with the UFC’s decision, as at that time he demanded a fight with Miocic, but he was given Sergei Pavlovich instead for the interim heavyweight title. Tom Aspinall emerged victorious and has since called out the division’s king Jon Jones for a fight.

“I get it. I’d feel the same way but I’m not taking anything away from him,” Miocic told Mahjouri. “The UFC can do what they want. It is what it is. There’s only one guy I want to fight. It’s Jon Jones. But at the same time, the UFC can pick who they want.” Stipe had sympathy for his fellow fighter.

Article continues below this ad

However, it is now claimed that the winner of the upcoming fight between Curtis Blaydes and Tom Aspinall on July 27 at UFC 304 will be the fourth time in history that there will be a fight to defend an interim championship belt. This winner will fight the winner of Jones vs. Miocic which as per the earlier revelation is scheduled for November, for the UFC Heavyweight title.

Now, the question for the readers: who do you want to see fighting for the UFC Heavyweight title among the four mentioned above? Let us know in the comments.