Miocic “couldn’t have cared less” about Jones and would fight Aspinall

If Jon Jones doesn't make it to UFC 309, Anthony Smith believes Stipe Miocic would face Tom Aspinall in the short term.

Interim champion Aspinall has been named the official replacement for the heavyweight title fight between champion Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) and Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC), headlining the November 16 event in Madison Square Garden.

Daniel Cormier doubts either Jones or Miocic would fight Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) if the other retires, but Smith disagrees.

“I think (Miocic) will do it,” Smith said on his podcast “Believe You Me” with Michael Bisping. “Every time I've had conversations with Stipe about things like this, I know I'm thinking about the entire media world and not just you (Bisping) and me, but the media in general and the UFC and everyone above that speaks You give the impression that Stipe really cares. He really doesn't give a shit. He's hardly a fighter. He doesn't have the mentality of a fighter unless he's actively fighting. He doesn't talk about fights, he doesn't watch them that much. He trains every day, but he is not immersed in this world at all.

“He wants to beat Jon because everyone else says Jon is the best. He didn't care about Jon Jones at all. He just doesn't do it. Whether it's Jon or Tom Aspinall, he'll train about the same. Not much will really change. He has this mentality where it's not about what this guy is going to do and how I'm going to react to it. His whole way of thinking is turned upside down. Here's what I'm going to do and he has to deal with it. That’s how Stipe’s mindset has always been. So whether it’s Jon or Tom, it doesn’t change anything for Stipe.”

Both Jones and Miocic are returning after long layoffs, with Miocic not having fought since March 2021 and Jones since March 2023. Meanwhile, Aspinall has already defended his interim title with a quick TKO against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in July.

For more information on the card, check out MMA Junkie's UFC 309 event hub.