It appears as though a potential interim heavyweight title bout
between Jon Jones and
Stipe
Miocic won’t happen this summer as originally planned.
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UFC president Dana White
recently hinted that a Jones-Miocic matchup might happen at UFC
276. Meanwhile, Jones advisor Richard Schaefer told
ESPN that the promotion discussed “Bones” facing Miocic with
the interim belt on the line in the main event of the July 2 card
in Las Vegas.
However, Jones tweeted on Tuesday that Miocic won’t be ready to
fight by that proposed date.
“Stipe is saying that he will be at his absolute peak in
September,” Jones wrote. “I’m disappointed but patient, I want the
heavyweight goat at his absolute best. I’ll wait until September.
No excuses.”
Stipe is saying that he will be at his
absolute peak in September. I’m disappointed but patient, I want
the heavyweight goat at his absolute best. I’ll wait until
September. No excuses— BONY (@JonnyBones)
April 26, 2022
According to Schaefer, Jones is ready to make his heavyweight debut
no matter the opponent. The one stipulation is that an interim
heavyweight belt must be on the line.
„We just want to fight for the heavyweight title,“ Schaefer said. „Jon doesn’t give a s–t against who. As long as it’s for the
title. He’s been waiting, he’s been training. He’s mentally and
physically ready.”
With reigning heavyweight champ Francis
Ngannou on the mend from knee surgery and also pursuing a
future fight with recently retired boxing champ Tyson Fury,
the likelihood of the UFC creating an interim title is quite
high.
Miocic last appeared at UFC 260 in March 2021, when he relinquished
the heavyweight crown to Ngannou in a second-round knockout loss.
The Ohio-based firefighter still holds the promotion record for
most successful heavyweight title defenses with three.
Jones, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since defending the light
heavyweight crown with a five-round verdict over Dominick
Reyes at UFC 247 in February 2020. However, it appears that the
ex-champ isn’t interested in being idle for too much longer, as
Schaefer told ESPN Jones won’t sit out beyond September.
„We would not want to sit around another two months and now we’re
talking December,” Schaefer said.