Jon Jones is gearing up for his first heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295. It will also be his second fight against a heavyweight contender. According to UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping, the fight against Miocic will prove the legitimacy of ‘Bones’ as the heavyweight champion. Why? Because Miocic presents a specific set of challenges for Jones, per the Englishman. So what are they?
When Jon Jones returned to the UFC after a three-year hiatus, he made quick work of Ciryl Gane. He defeated the French fighter in the very first round of the fight. However, Stipe Miocic presents a different challenge. It has led Michael Bisping to believe that this fight could define Jones as a heavyweight fighter.
Michael Bisping believes UFC 295 will be the “real fight” at heavyweight for Jon Jones
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In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, ‘The Count’ started off by mentioning Jon Jones’s return to the Octagon for the second time in 2023. However, this time he believes it will be his first actual fight against a well-rounded heavyweight fighter. He said, “We got Jon Jones, and we got Stipe Miocic, right? Jon Jones returning [for] the first real fight at heavyweight.”
Michael Bisping did not want to disrespect Ciryl Gane’s status as a heavyweight fighter but mentioned that the fight was over too quickly. The way the fight turned out at UFC 285, did not make it look like a real fight for Jon Jones. The Hall of Famer added, “When I say a real fight, that’s not a disrespect to Ciryl Gane… But Jon took him down quickly and it was over very fast, so it wasn’t necessarily a fight for him.”
Similarly, Bisping also stated that this fight would reveal everything about Jon Jones – from his endurance to stamina to conditioning. Bisping said, “We did not have all these questions answered like, Can Jon take a real shot off a legit heavyweight? Will his gas tank continue throughout five rounds? Will he be able to fight at a high pace?” He even mentioned what Daniel Cormier had to say about the fight.
Bisping claims that both fighters are up for a tough challenge in November
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Michael Bisping referred to fellow Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier‘s comments about the fight between Stipe Miocic and Jon Jones. Cormier and Bisping apparently agree about the fact that both of them will be surprised if Miocic or Jones end up knocking the other out. ‘The Count’ said, “Against Stipe Miocic, it’s going to be a real fight. In fact, Daniel Cormier just said this week. He said, ‘I will be very shocked if either man knocks the other out.'”
Bisping doesn’t believe that the upcoming heavyweight title fight is going to be a one-sided affair. Instead, he thinks that it will be a challenging contest for both Miocic and Jones. Similarly, he also thinks that the fans might get to witness a double retirement at UFC 295. “This is going to be a hard fight for both men, and it really is. It really is, and that’s a sensational fight and we might see a double retirement.”
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Stipe Miocic is considered the greatest heavyweight of all time. It is a sentiment that’s not only echoed by the fans but MMA personalities, including Dana White, as well. Hence, it remains to be seen how Jon Jones will fare against the veteran with momentum on his side after an emphatic win over Ciryl Gane. What do you think? Will Jones beat Miocic easily? Drop your comments below.
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