UFC world heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic would’ve preferred a 30-foot octagon for his upcoming bout with Daniel Cormier at UFC 252. Photo by: Arturo Pardavila III (flickr).
Stipe Miocic will face Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane winner after UFC 285, says Dana White
Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic will face the Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane winner after UFC 285, says UFC president Dana White.
White spoke to reporters in Las Vegas ahead of this weekend’s mega pay-per-view card and confirmed that Miocic will fight whoever emerges as the new champion between Jones and Gane. The two will meet on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for the vacant UFC heavyweight title, and Miocic will be waiting in the wings to fight the winner of it.
“He’s absolutely the next one. So, whoever wins on Saturday night will face Stipe next,” White said (via ESPN).
Miocic has not fought since UFC 260 in March 2021, when he was brutally knocked out by former champion Francis Ngannou. He has not fought since then, but he has been teasing a comeback for some time now. Miocic had originally hoped to fight Jones in his comeback fight, but the UFC went with Gane instead. Now, it appears that Miocic will not have to wait that much longer as he is being pegged to fight whoever emerges from Jones vs. Gane.
Many fans and media consider Miocic the greatest UFC heavyweight champion of all time, so it makes sense that he would get the next title shot despite having not fought in over two years. Jones, in fact, has already said that he hopes to fight Miocic in his first title defense, so if he gets by Gane, then it makes sense to do that matchup next. If Gane wins the fight, then a matchup between Miocic and him is very intriguing as well. Either way, Miocic looks to be in a great spot going forward.
Do you think Stipe Miocic deserves the next UFC heavyweight title shot, or do you think another contender is more deserving of fighting for the belt next?
