UFC heavyweight Stipe Miocic plans to win back his title from Jon Jones by sticking to his own style, allowing him to control the fight, rather than adapting to Jones’ unpredictable techniques.
For UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, the plan to defeat current titleholder Jon Jones lies in remaining true to himself. Despite Jones’ unpredictable fighting style replete with reach, leg kicks, spinning attacks, that have earned him the designation of MMA Great, Miocic believes that staying on his own game is the key to winning back the title. He asserts, “I’m not going to let him dictate what he wants to do, I’m going to dictate what I want to do. I’m going to do what I want. The minute I let him stop doing what I want, I’ve lost the fight. But if I do what I want, my chances are a lot better of winning than losing.”
Speaking to the tactics Jones employs in the ring, Miocic acknowledges his mastery of “off the wall stuff that works.” This however does not hinder Miocic’s confidence in his own self-stated simpler style of fighting. He confessed, “I’m more like a one-two, one-two kick. I’m simple. He’s very dangerous from everywhere. He does things you wouldn’t expect, so I need to prepare for everything.” Preparation is precisely what Miocic intends to do when the two meet at UFC 295 on Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden. The champ revealed that when he steps into the ring with Jones, he will weigh between 245 and 250 pounds and more than ready for the challenge.
There has been some skepticism towards Miocic’s dedication since he moved from part-time to full-time as a firefighter paramedic. However, Miocic expressed his unwavered commitment, firm in his stance that nothing has shifted. “I’m doing everything I’m supposed to,” he said. “I haven’t changed anything I’ve done. I can still work out at the station. It’s not like every day is a sparring day, or a pad day – it’s conditioning, lifting. There’s recovery days. I don’t understand people.” He also wants to enlighten fans about the difficulties that arise while trying to make such fights happen; many months passed after Jones’ callout to Miocic before the fight was eventually organized.
Speaking on the topic of Jones defending his heavyweight belt for the first time since winning it in March with a quick victory over ex-interim champ Ciryl Gane, which earned him the 2023 ESPY for Best MMA fighter, Miocic dismissed it stating, “That’s good for him, Unfortunately for him, a lot’s going to change.” He deems himself the superior fighter, and assures his followers, “I’m walking out with the belt wrapped around my waist – and new, there’s no question about that, I’m going to beat him in every aspect of the game. I’m going for the finish.”