‘He’s ruthless’ – From Tom Aspinall to Francis Ngannou – the UFC’s biggest stars make predictions for Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic fight
In the words of the great Bruce Buffer, "It's time!!!!"
Well, almost, as Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic's legacy bout at UFC 309 is a matter of days away.
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The heavyweight clash of the titans was originally scheduled to take place at UFC 295 in 2023, but 'Bones' tore his pectoral muscle in training and was out of action for months.
Thankfully, Jones is now back and looking to cement his status as the UFC GOAT.
Stipe, meanwhile, is looking to add his own incredible heavyweight legacy and become the first man to beat Jones inside the octagon in what would be the mother of all scalps.
Jones and Miocic, now 37 and 42 respectively, have both had an extended period of time away from the cage.
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The last time former two-time Light Heavyweight Jones was in the octagon was at UFC 285 in March 2023, when he submitted Ciryl Gane after a three-year hiatus to capture the vacant heavyweight strap.
On the other hand, Miocic's last appearance in MMA was at UFC 260 in 2021, when he was knocked out in the first round in devastating fashion by Francis Ngannou.
Despite their potential rustiness, Jones vs Miocic is mouth-watering bout between two all-time greats with all sorts of career-defining ramifications, and many UFC stars and legends have already shared their predictions.
And it's fair to say the MMA world is divided...
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Who is backing Stipe?
Tom Aspinall
“I’d be looking for the knockout against Jon Jones is what I’d be looking for with him," Aspinall said.
“I’d be trying to push him back and use his size. It’s not even like he can use the experience, [because] they’re both as experienced as one another.
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“But I’d just be using my size on him, trying to push him back and knock him out.
“I think that Stipe Miocic has got big knockout power in comparison to Jon Jones. So I think he can knock him out.”
Francis Ngannou
"[If I had to pick a winner] it would have to be Stipe," the PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Champion before their scheduled fight last year.
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"Stylistically... Stipe - I fought Stipe twice and I think Stipe doesn't have the credit he deserves. Obviously, I won the second time, still I know that I could have lost that time.
"...I mean he fought [Daniel Cormier] three times and you can see how he fought, yeah --- and also this is a different weight class for Jon Jones. This is heavyweight and I think it's slightly different than light heavyweight."
Who is backing Jones?
Derrick Lewis
“I think Jones will beat him in the first round,” recently.
“It’s crazy to see a lot of people just disrespect Jones like that, like he ain’t the GOAT, for real.
"A lot of people keep throwing around these GOAT terms and this and that, Jones has been doing this for so many years at the top of the level against all these opponents, like top-ranked guys."
Paddy Pimblett
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"I think Jon Jones is going to win. I could never pick against Jon Jones, I don't think," 'The Baddy' .
"I've watched all his fights since, like before his DQ loss to Matt Hamill … I've been watching him for years. I never thought he was going to lose."
Belal Muhammad
“I think Jon Jones is going to finish him," Muhammad .
"I don’t think there’s a better heavyweight in the world right now than Jon Jones.
Jon Jones shares new training footage ahead of his huge fight with Stipe Miocic
"Everything he does is just so athletic, and he’s so gifted. He’s just ruthless; whenever he steps into that cage, he’s a different person.
“I think Stipe is a little bit older now; he hasn’t fought in a couple of years, and I think Jon Jones is just going to be too fast, too strong, and too quick for him.”
Fedor Emelianenko
“I watched Miocic fights, of course. He is a former UFC champion. His technique was interesting, he moves well,"
"But I would say, it is just my opinion. He lacks power. He has the speed; he’s light on his feet, but he doesn’t have enough power. It was evident in his fight against Ngannou."
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Who's on the fence?
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“Both fighters bring something unique to the table. It’s going to be a matchup like we’ve never seen before," former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Velasquez said.
“Jones’ agility and reach could give him an advantage. But Miocic, with his ground game and power, can’t be underestimated. Both are threats in their own right.”
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