“Everyone thinks he’s [Jon Jones] going to beat my a**. I don’t like being told that. I like shutting people up. He’s beatable,” Stipe Miocic confidently told CBS Sports in July this year. However, the former two-time heavyweight champion, who’s set to go up against current heavyweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer Jon Jones on November 27 has a lot of catching up to do. However, fans definitely don’t think after being given evidence of the fighter’s epic form. But before we get to that part…

For the uninitiated, Jones and Miocic’s clash was originally scheduled for UFC 295 in 2023, but got canceled due to Jones suffering a pectoral tendon tear in training. Now the two heavyweight titans are set to go at each other once again, this time, at UFC 309 in November, and little comparison shows what stands ahead of Miocic.

Case in point: The 42-year-old star’s last fight was the UFC 260 in 2021—a knockout loss against Frances Ngannou. His last win was in 2020 that he won by unanimous decision against Daniel Cormier. On the contrary, Jon Jones has had a stellar record with five straight wins going back to 2o18. Moreover, the only two losses the veteran suffered in his career were a result of controversial events landing Jones in trouble. His 2009 loss against Matt Hamill was after Jones was disqualified for landing a slew of 12-to-6 elbows, which was a then-illegal strike. On the other hand, his 2017 UFC 214 win against Daniel Cormier was overturned after Bones failed a dr*g test right after the match.

Looking at history, even Cormier couldn’t help but point out Miocic’s inferiority. Talking on his “Funky and the Champ” show in May, he told Olympic wrestler star and professional boxer Ben Askren, “But to go that long without a fight, and the last fight being a brutal knockout, into a title fight with a guy like Jones? I don’t know. I don’t know what Stipe looks like today. For four years, he’s lived the life of a normal person.” 

However, Miocic’s last opponent, Ngannou had a different song to sing. In a conversation in October last year, he stated, “[If I had to pick a winner] it would have to be Stipe. 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.” And now fans have also been fired up after The Silencer dropped a video on Instagram.

Miocic shared a glimpse of him putting in the hours in the gym to prepare for the challenge. The video shows him focused, drenched in sweat, with the caption: “Working towards a goal.”

The fans are also buzzing as the former champion’s clash against ‘Bones’ might be the last time the MMA sphere gets to witness these two warriors in action. Why? In a recent interview with ‘Clocked N’Loaded’, Jones confirmed that, “It’s going to be the last time, more than likely.” And according to Dana White in an interview with Kevin Iole, Miocic seems to be headed towards the same trajectory as the UFC boss stated, “Stipe 100 percent is going to retire after this fight”.

For Miocic, that goal is clear—taking out Jon Jones, a fighter some consider unbeatable. But is Jones really invincible, or has Miocic found the key to unlock his weaknesses? As UFC fans eagerly wait for the November fight, they’re flooding Miocic’s social media with messages of support, anticipation, and a bit of a demand for a “personal favor”…

Fans rally behind Stipe Miocic as former champion gets asked to “annihilate” Jon Jones 

Despite Miocic’s age being a cause for concern, according to one fan, that’s not a big deal for a heavyweight fighter. “Everyone thinking Stipe’s age means Jones walks through him, completely forgetting that the “age” thing has always been way less relevant at heavyweight. Look at George Foreman”

To brush up your memory, the former profession boxing veteran had a career spanning three decades from 1967-1997, during which won a staggering 76 wins (68 knockouts) and 5 losses. While Big George had initially retired in 1977 after a loss to Jimmy Young in 1977. Then in 1994 at the age of 45, he knocked out 26-year-old Michael Moorer, winning the the unified WBA, IBF, and lineal heavyweight championship titles. He also became the oldest heavyweight champion with the feat.

Another social media user boldly asked Stipe Miocic to demolish Jon Jones inside the Octagon as a “personal favor” for them, writing, “I would consider it a huge personal favor if you would annihilate Jones in the ring and end his career, his hype, and his claptrap.” With Jones already hinting at his retirement, will Miocic be able to hand him his first defeat inside the Octagon and cement himself as the best UFC heavyweight of his generation? We’ll have to wait for UFC 309 to find out.  

Others see this as Miocic’s chance to cement his legacy once and for all. “You have nothing to prove, go out and do your job on November 16. Show who is the baddest guy on the planet,” read a comment. The Ohio native already holds the record for most consecutive title defenses in UFC heavyweight division history with 3 to his name and also has the most finishes in title fights. Adding ‘Bones’ name to his resume would be the cherry on top of Miocic’s already remarkable career. 

However, not everybody is convinced. Despite their appreciation for all Miocic has done, the possibility of Jon Jones repeating his performance from his fight against Ciryl Gane looms like a specter over the upcoming UFC 309 clash. ‘Bones’ ran through Gane by submitting him in the very first round of their UFC 285 clash in 2023 en route to winning the vacant heavyweight title. Taking that into account, one follower wrote, “He’s done in round 1. Love and respect him, just done in round 1.”

To wrap things up, the stakes have never been higher for Stipe Miocic. The excitement and tension continue to build for UFC 309. Some fans are confident that Miocic will rise to the occasion and give Jon Jones his first real taste of defeat, while others remain skeptical, fearing another dominant performance from ‘Bones.’  With both fighters potentially on the brink of retirement, this fight could mark the end of an era in MMA.

Could this be the moment Miocic cements his legacy as the greatest UFC heavyweight of all time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!