With Summer Unlikely, Jon Jones Willing to Wait Until September for Stipe Miocic Bout
It appears as though a potential interim heavyweight title bout between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic won’t happen this summer as originally planned.
Advertisement
However, Jones tweeted on Tuesday that Miocic won’t be ready to fight by that proposed date.
“Stipe is saying that he will be at his absolute peak in
September,” Jones wrote. “I’m disappointed but patient, I want the
heavyweight goat at his absolute best. I’ll wait until September.
No excuses.”
Stipe is saying that he will be at his absolute peak in September. I’m disappointed but patient, I want the heavyweight goat at his absolute best. I’ll wait until September. No excuses
— BONY (@JonnyBones) April 26, 2022
According to Schaefer, Jones is ready to make his heavyweight debut no matter the opponent. The one stipulation is that an interim heavyweight belt must be on the line.
"We just want to fight for the heavyweight title," Schaefer said. "Jon doesn't give a s--t against who. As long as it's for the title. He's been waiting, he's been training. He's mentally and physically ready.”
With reigning heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou on the mend from knee surgery and also pursuing a future fight with recently retired boxing champ Tyson Fury, the likelihood of the UFC creating an interim title is quite high.
Miocic last appeared at UFC 260 in March 2021, when he relinquished the heavyweight crown to Ngannou in a second-round knockout loss. The Ohio-based firefighter still holds the promotion record for most successful heavyweight title defenses with three.
Jones, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since defending the light heavyweight crown with a five-round verdict over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February 2020. However, it appears that the ex-champ isn’t interested in being idle for too much longer, as Schaefer told ESPN Jones won’t sit out beyond September.
"We would not want to sit around another two months and now we're talking December,” Schaefer said.
« Previous After Lunch Meeting with Dana White, Gilbert Burns Targets Chimaev Rematch
Next Sherdog Prospect Watch: Tatsuro Taira »
More