Stipe Miocic-Jon Jones looks like November, but superfight is not official yet – News-Herald

The long-awaited superfight – which Stipe Miocic calls a legacy fight – still seems to be in sight, but nothing is official yet.

For UFC President Dana White, former two-time heavyweight champion Miocic and current champion Jon Jones, the clock continues to tick until November.

How a fight between Miocic and Jones will play out is still uncertain, but the big question is whether fans will actually get to see this dream match. White has insisted for months that Miocic and Jones will trade blows in the Octagon – and many have speculated that the fight will take place on November 16 at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Nothing is official. According to White, it seems almost official.

White was asked this week during a Contender Series press conference in Las Vegas if a “Jon Jones card in November” would be made:

“Not yet, but there will be one… we will start building that map soon,” White said.

The key to this statement is making the main event on this card official, which means Jones and Miocic have to sign on the dotted line — or White has to declare it's officially done.

Because until Miocic-Jones is announced as an official fight, everything seems to remain uncertain.

The Miocic-Jones duel was supposed to take place in November 2023, but Jones canceled due to a pectoral muscle injury and subsequent surgery.

Miocic, who was not available for comment, told the News-Herald in July 2023 that the fight against Jones was a milestone in his career and “100%” the biggest fight of his career.

“It means everything,” said Miocic“It’s everything we’ve worked for.”

Miocic, who turns 42 on August 19, has been training, but likely not in training camp mode. According to Miocic and his trainer Marcus Marinelli, a training camp in the past lasted about six weeks before a fight. In that case – and if the Miocic-Jones fight takes place on November 16 – Miocic’s fight training camp would likely begin sometime in late September.

The only question that remains is whether and when White will officially announce the superfight.

For Miocic, it has now been more than three years since he last fought, during which time Jones – a former light heavyweight champion – moved up to heavyweight and won the belt. During his injury layoff, Tom Aspinall has established himself as interim champion and has said in recent months that he wants to take his chance on Jones. In early August, Aspinall said he will be the backup if either Miocic or Jones pull out of their likely fight.

That may be too much for the heavyweight division, but White seems to be committed to Miocic-Jones. Of course, it is Miocic's wish too.

“There's only one guy I want to fight and that's Jon Jones,” Miocic recently told CBS Sports. “But at the same time, the UFC can pick who they want to pick. I don't think any division is appropriate, like everyone says.”

In Miocic’s last fight – in spring 2021 – lost by KO in the second round to former champion Francis Nqannou.

Miocic's reign as a two-time champion began in 2016. During that time, Miocic (20-4) defeated Ngannou in a dominant performance in Boston during a 2018 title defense and earned two wins over Daniel Cormier during a hotly contested trilogy.

During Miocic's inactivity, Jones moved up a weight class and now owns the belt. He has a career record of 27-1 and is considered one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time.

Originally published: 16 August 2024 at 16:17