Jon Jones Prepares for UFC 309 Main Event Against Stipe Miocic
Jon Jones is getting ready for fight week as he gears up to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. The showdown is set to take place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday, and Jones is closely following the pre-fight programming leading up to the event.
In a recent UFC Countdown program, Miocic made a bold statement, saying, “Bring it on, b*tch.” This remark didn’t sit well with Jones, who took to Instagram and Twitter to respond to Miocic’s choice of words.
Addressing Miocic, Jones wrote, “Hiring black fighters to mimic me will not help you, Stipe. And you shouldn’t have called me a b*tch, the disrespect wasn’t necessary. Let’s play.” This exchange marked a shift in the previously respectful rivalry between the two fighters.
While Miocic and Jones were initially set to fight at UFC 295 in December 2023, Jones had to withdraw from the bout due to a pectoral injury. In his absence, Tom Aspinall claimed an interim title and has been eyeing a unification bout with Jones, who remains focused on facing Miocic.
Jones’ reluctance to acknowledge Aspinall as a legitimate contender for his title has stirred controversy in the MMA community, with accusations of Jones avoiding the up-and-coming heavyweight.
Responding to critics and fellow fighters like Magomed Ankalaev, Jones defended his legacy and record, emphasizing the significance of his achievements in the sport.
“Magomed, jealousy won’t earn you legend status, my friend,” Jones tweeted. “Train harder, hate less. Want to truly insult me? Break some of my records first. Let’s get started.”
“It’s wild how narratives seem to appear out of thin air,” Jones responded to ongoing discussions about his career. “Stipe and I have been set to fight for ages, even before the interim title bout. Some of y’all just run with stories you wish were real.”
“If he becomes the best of all time, then calling me a duck would make sense,” Jones challenged his critics. “Right now? Way too early. My challenge to him: build a career like mine. Winning 5? Hard enough. 17? I seriously doubt it.”
“I love talking MMA with you guys, hope y’all have a great night,” Jones concluded his Twitter spree.
In a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Miocic apologized for his choice of words, expressing regret for any offense caused. “He was just talking to me, I was talking to him,” Miocic clarified. “Bring it on. I’m sorry if I hurt his feelings, just fired up, you know?”
As the tension builds towards UFC 309, fans eagerly anticipate the highly-anticipated clash between Jones and Miocic.