STIPE MIOCIC & FRANCIS NGANNOU RESPOND TO JON JONES

By Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media Head Boxing Correspondent

Las Vegas, NV (March 7th, 2023)–After an absence of over three years, Jon Jones, 27-1 with 10 knockouts from Team Jackson-Wink MMA, regained the vacant Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC World Heavyweight championship with a first round guillotine choke victory at 2:04 of the first round over heavyweight contender and former world title challenger Ciryl Gane, who is now 11-2 with five knockouts from Paris, France, in the main event of UFC 285.

 Jones disappeared for 37 months with a contract dispute and handling his past criminal charges, after ruling the 205lb division for 10 years. Former UFC World Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou departed with the UFC over a contractual dispute involving salary requirements and desired health insurance from the UFC. Francis also wanted the UFC to let him box, Stipe Miocic, 20-4 with 15 knockouts who fights out of Cleveland, Ohio, who is 1-1 with Ngannou, has been designated as the next challenger for Jones’ UFC world heavyweight title. The fight could take place in July.

 Francis Ngannou tweeted “Good job, Jonny boy, (signed) the heavyweight king.”

 According to Jones in reply at the post fight press conference, “Francis Ngannou is a big ole pussy. I love that quote.  All that muscle with a big ass pussy. Excuse me. I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry (for speaking my mind).” We took zero damage (against Gane). I believe in my next fight, I’ll go into it with a different level of confidence, an even higher level of confidence. I believe I’ll have an even higher level of endurance than today. I believe I’m going to be really hard to beat because I’m in really great condition. The (my) next fight is going to be awesome. I saw it respectfully.”

 At age 35, Jones has a number of good years in front of him. Jones left. Ngannou came in. Ngannou left. Jones returned. Jones versus Ngannou, the lineal champion, remains a possibility. Miocic is 40 years old, and while return bouts are good for Jones, for his comeback to be regarded as more than just a return to the octagon, Jones will have to move up one level in opposition if Jones versus Ngannou is to ever become a reality. Controversy sell tickets, and for the moment, Jon Jones is once again the unbeatable heavyweight superstar of the UFC.

 Jon Jones has now warned professional firefighter Miocic to dedicate himself totally to mixed martial arts (MMA) and his upcoming challenge with Jones, stating Miocic needs to “Take time off” from firefighting if he hopes to beat him.

Miocic responded to Jones ominous comment on The MMA Hour with “I think everyone tries to say that and they realize they’re in a world of hurt when it’s not happening the way they want. I don’t know if he knows this, but I’ve been (working as) a fireman the whole time I’ve been in my career in the UFC. But whatever. That’s none of my (anybody else’s) business. I don’t really care (what Jon Jones or anybody else thinks of my profession outside of the UFC).”

Who do you think wins between Stipe Miocic vs. Jon Jones? Comment below.


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Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert is the Head Boxing Correspondent for Real Combat Media Boxing since 2013. Robert is also a photographer and ringside reporter for the RCM Tri State region which includes NJ, NY and PA. Robert conducts exclusive interviews, provides historical boxing articles and provides editorial ringside coverage of major boxing events. You can contact or follow Robert on Facebook and by email at [email protected].