When Jon Jones made fast work of Ciryl Gane back in 2023, previous UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic was front and center to view all of it occur.
He might not have actually understood it at the time however Miocic instantly took spotlight following that battle when Jones called him out as the challenger he most wished to deal with next. Naturally, Miocic happily accepted due to the fact that the possibility to recover the heavyweight title while taking on perhaps the best fighter of all-time was too luring the miss.
“He's proficient at what he does,” Miocic stated about Jones when speaking with MMA Fighting. “He's an artist. He understands how to blend it up. He understands how to keep a guy thinking. That's why he's done so well.
“100 percent [mutual respect]I believe he's a fantastic fighter. I believe he feels the very same about me. We're not going to feel the very same method once we touch gloves. We understand it's going to be a program. We're going to place on an excellent program.”
As dominant has Jones was at 205 pounds, it's still a little harder to evaluate him as a heavyweight with just one battle on his resume after investing less than 4 minutes in the cage with Gane.
Miocic was definitely impressed by that efficiency however he likewise understands he's a much various animal with a tested performance history compared to someone like Gane. With a college fumbling background integrated with quick hands and harsh knockout power, Miocic isn't arrogant however he understands he's going to provide Jones the sort of issues he's never ever dealt with in the past, particularly at heavyweight.
“He did what he was expected to do [against Ciryl Gane],” Miocic stated. “He got the win. I didn't see much since it didn't go that long. He did whatever he was expected to and got the win.
“I do not believe he has [been tested at heavyweight] He's battled the finest in the world. I'm various. He'll discover. I'm going to touch that chin. I assure you that.”
In lots of methods, Jones is a puzzle that's never ever been fixed and the proof to that truth stands with his almost unblemished resume minus one disqualification loss in a battle he was winning conveniently.
A couple of fighters have actually come close to beating Jones in the past, normally in close choices, however he's never ever truly been harmed to the point where a surface appeared possible. Miocic wish to alter that on Saturday night.
“I've got the very best coaches, we're dealing with whatever,” Miocic stated. “We're dealing with every circumstance. I believe that we'll be prepared. I understand we'll be all set. I have the very best coaches worldwide. I would not be here today if it wasn't for them.
“I do not desire any reasons. I'm not going to make any reasons. I'm training my ass off. I'm here to combat and I'm here to win.
