As UFC 309 approaches, speculation is rife about whether this could be the final fight for Stipe Miocic. The former heavyweight champion is set to face Jon Jones in a highly anticipated match, but persistent rumors suggest that both fighters might be considering retirement afterward.
Miocic's Mindset: Preparing for the Last Fight
Stipe Miocic is preparing for his final fight at UFC 309. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the former heavyweight champion is calling it quits after the Nov. 16 pay-per-view (PPV) event. That’s because Miocic believes every fight has the potential to be his last.
"I think every fight, I’m always preparing for my last one," Miocic told MMA Fighting. "I always thought about retiring after my first UFC fight. I say that all the time. Who wants to get beat up for 10 weeks, 12 weeks, come back and do it again?"
In addition, the part-time firefighter turned 42 back in August. Interim champion Tom Aspinall is just 31.
"I love what I do and it’s fun," Miocic continued. "So we’ll see, but right now my task at hand is Jon. That’s all I care about. That’s what I’m thinking about. When I do beat him, it’s going to be great."
That said, Miocic clearly envisions winning, and he couldn’t fathom a much better way to end his career than becoming the first person to legitimately beat Jon Jones.
Miocic has not competed since getting knocked out by Francis Ngannou in early 2021.
Jon Jones' Perspective on Retirement
Jones hasn’t exactly hidden the fact that he’s got nothing left to prove, and he’s hinted at retirement numerous times when addressing his future after facing Miocic on Nov. 16.
Jones turned 37 back in July.
Dana White's View: Settling the Dispute with Tom Aspinall
Despite the rumors, Dana White doesn't see Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic riding off into the sunset just yet.
Jones, the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion, has fought in the Octagon longer than most, having made his promotional debut in 2008 before he captured his first world title in 2011. A decade of title wins later, "Bones" claimed the heavyweight strap against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March of last year.
Since then, Jones had to postpone his first title defense against Stipe Miocic from a year ago to UFC 309, where they headline from Madison Square Garden. Of course, breathing down their necks is interim champ Tom Aspinall, who's made it clear he's the #1 guy in the heavyweight division with three-straight victories, one of those being a rare interim title defense in Jones' more than a year-long absence.
Even with Aspinall staking his claim for a title unification bout against the winner, there's no guarantee either Jones or Miocic will fight on after UFC 309 is over and done with. Both men have just about done it all in their careers with Jones, 37, approaching his forties and Miocic already 42.
Though, age is just a number, with UFC CEO Dana White thinking the veterans will give a young gun like Tom Aspinall a chance to compete for the undisputed title, which is what the Brit has been asking for over the last 12 months.
"I truly believe that whoever wins this fight, just competitively the way that these guys are wired and the reason that they're both massive legends in the sport, they're not going to just ride off into the sunset without settling the dispute with Tom Aspinall," White told TNT Sports.
In his time away from competition, Jones has shown not even the slightest interest in unifying the titles against Aspinall. On Friday, Jones confirmed to Kevin Iole he'd "more than likely not" fight Aspinall after Miocic, saying the interim champ might be "cool today" but "maybe gone tomorrow", preferring a super fight with UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira (a superstar in his own right) instead.
On the other hand, Miocic isn't focused on retirement at all (at least in recent interviews), and is totally locked in on the fight with "Bones".
Miocic's Perspective on Fighting Jones
As much as Miocic has always wanted the fight against Jones, it’s still up to the UFC to book these fights and that’s completely out of his control.
“It wasn’t my choice,” Miocic told MMA Fighting. “It’s a fight I wanted, and the UFC gave it to me. They didn’t have to. They gave it to me.”
Perhaps the biggest difference with Miocic is the legacy he’s built as arguably the greatest heavyweight in UFC history after breaking the record for the most title defenses in the division (three total). Miocic takes nothing away from Aspinall, but he ultimately believes his fight against Jones just means more to the sport.
“I believe so [there’s a reason why it’s happening],” Miocic said. “I believe people want to see that. I think a lot more people want to see the fight than him fight Aspinall.
“[Tom Aspinall is] tough. He hits hard. Big boy. It’s what people want, he knocks people out.”
The Road Ahead
Miocic understands the task he’s undertaking with a fight against Jones after such a long layoff but don’t expect him to lay down and play dead just because some loud voices in the sport are saying he can’t win. The 42-year-old Cleveland native admits there’s a time when hearing that might have bothered him, but these days he just doesn’t pay attention to what anybody says much less let it get to him.
“I don’t listen to anything on the outside,” Miocic said. “I used to when I was younger, when I started I was like why would you say that? How dare you? I was real sensitive. I literally stopped caring anymore. I don’t care what anyone says. I really don’t care.”
So where exactly does he stand on this whole retirement talk after facing Jones?
“I think every fight, I’m always preparing for my last one,” Miocic said. “I always thought about retiring after my first UFC fight. I say that all the time. Who wants to get beat up for 10 weeks, 12 weeks, come back and do it again?
“I love what I do and it’s fun. So we’ll see but right now my task at hand is Jon. That’s all I care about. That’s what I’m thinking about.”
That said, Miocic clearly envisions winning, and he couldn’t fathom a much better way to end his career than becoming the first person to legitimately beat Jon Jones.
“When I do beat him, it’s going to be great,” Miocic said.
Only time will tell if UFC 309 marks the end of an era for Stipe Miocic and Jon Jones. The outcome of the fight and their personal reflections afterward will ultimately determine their next steps.
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