Former two-time UFC heavyweight champion, Stipe Miocic, openly expressed his disappointment following the sudden halt to what was poised to be a landmark fight in his professional MMA career. The much-awaited face-off between Miocic and Jon Jones at UFC 295’s centerpiece at Madison Square Garden has been derailed due to Jon Jones’s injury.
The bout had garnered colossal buzz and anticipation due to the name value of both fighters. The unexpected cancellation struck Miocic deeply, and while describing the setback, he likened the news to a severe blow, revealing his profound disillusionment.
Stipe Miocic reveals shocking update over title match
On his OnlyFans account, Miocic recounted the jarring moment when the news broke. He was awakened in the early hours by his child with his phone ominously vibrating with the update. A message from his manager confirmed the fight cancellation, leaving him devastated by unforeseen developments.
Jon Jones encountered a pectoral tear during wrestling training. Although not rare in the realm of combat sports, it carries weighty consequences, especially when on the cusp of significant events. Projections estimate Jones’s hiatus to last around a minimum of eight months.
Following the bout’s cancellation, UFC unveiled an interim heavyweight title clash featuring 2nd-ranked Sergei Pavlovich and 3rd-ranked Tom Aspinall. Intriguingly, Miocic disclosed that he wasn’t approached to contest this interim title. He said, “It wasn’t my choice, it was theirs.” Thus adding to his sense of dejection. This also contradicted Dana White’s words in the presser.
Miocic reiterated his aspiration to square off against the sport’s elite while grasping Dana White’s stance. He underscored his goal of title retrieval and conveyed optimism for a prospective matchup with Jones post-recovery in 2024. Jones in a recent Instagram post has already apologized to Miocic for the unforeseen injury.
Miocic leaves fans in disbelief with OnlyFans move
The combat sports fraternity is keen to know about Miocic’s forthcoming actions. Some believe that waiting for Jones’s recovery and rescheduling the duel would be the best course for the over-40 Miocic, while others advocate exploring alternative contenders among the newer generation.
Interestingly, Stipe Miocic announced on Instagram that they would get details about his fight business on his OnlyFans. This move has surprised fans. One fan even voiced his surprise with the comment, “Ufc needs to pay Stiopic more, the HW GOAT shouldn’t be on OF.” It’s worth noting that many fighters, especially females, have made more money on OnlyFans than from fighting.
Nevertheless, UFC’s chief, Dana White, has alluded to the possibility of orchestrating the Jones-Miocic encounter next year, offering a ray of hope. However, the volatile nature of the sport implies that there are no certainties. Presently, the MMA community’s focus has shifted to the main and co-main events of UFC 295.
In the main event, Jiri Prochazka will be fighting for the title he vacated due to injury against former middleweight champion, Alex “Poatan” Pereira. In the co-main event, instead of a battle between veteran heavyweights, young up-and-comers, Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall, will be contending for an interim heavyweight championship.
Do you think Stipe Miocic will become champion again in the UFC? Do comment below!
