Stipe Miocic is stepping back into the Octagon to reclaim the division gold against Jon Jones in less than a week, and the UFC’s resident firefighter is as prepared as ever. Yet, confidence doesn’t shield a fighter from the sting of criticism. So how does Miocic handle the waves of negativity from fans and even veteran fighters?

Ariel Helwani recently posed this question to Miocic with regards to fighting Jones on his podcast, touching on whether reaching the top can sometimes feel isolating amidst the criticism. Miocic’s response was direct: he simply doesn’t care. “I always use it. I use that fuel,” he said. “Keep talking sh*t about me. Keep dogging me—I use it as fire.” Much like his day job as a first responder, Cleveland’s own knows how to turn pressure into power.

He has faced this heat before, notably leading up to his trilogy fight with Daniel Cormier. This resistance to not rush back into a fight with Cormier had led to a lot of criticism which he felt was completely unwanted. “I don’t know what people want from me really,” Miocic told MMA Fighting. “Everyone’s like ‘he’s holding the division’ and I’m like how am I holding up the division? Other guys are saying ‘We can train.’ Well, good for you. You live in a different state, you have different regulations.”

Working as a firefighter, Miocic had his hands full with the COVID-19 crisis and was reluctant to commit to a fight when most gyms were closed. But as Miocic has shown time and again, he channels adversity into motivation, standing resilient as he readies himself for another chance to reclaim UFC glory.

Now that Miocic is set to return to the Octagon against Jones, the criticism has resurfaced. After a three-year hiatus, Miocic is facing scrutiny, especially with interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall waiting in the wings for his shot at the title. Originally, Miocic was scheduled to face Jones a year ago, but the bout was postponed due to Jones suffering a pectoral injury. Despite these uncontrollable setbacks, some fans have continued to criticize Miocic’s prolonged absence.

Addressing this with MMA Fighting, Miocic said, “It wasn’t my choice. It’s a fight I wanted, and the UFC gave it to me. They didn’t have to. They gave it to me.” But Miocic hasn’t held back from a bit of trash talk himself. He had some choice words for Jon Jones, expressing his confidence and drive, adding fuel to an already intense matchup.

Stipe Miocic strikes a nerve with his trash-talk

As Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones continue their online exchanges, Stipe Miocic also stirred things up with some comments that didn’t sit well with Jones. During the UFC 309 Countdown video, Miocic addressed his legacy bout with a tinch of aggression and called out Jones with a mouthful. “Bring it on bi–h”! Bring it on!”, Miocic stated. Jones was quick to clap back at the former two-time champion, tweeting, “Hiring black fighters to mimic me will not help you, Stipe. And you shouldn’t have called me a b-tch.”

Following the exchange, Miocic addressed the situation in an interview with Ariel Helwani. Reflecting on the incident, Miocic expressed regret over his words and sought to clarify his intentions. “I was just talking to myself. I wasn’t directing it at him. I was just getting hyped up—just at the moment, I guess. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings. I’m sorry if it came across that way.”

Despite his efforts to clear the air, the tension remains thick. But how much of that fire will ignite when the duo finally meets in the Octagon? Share your thoughts on who you think will come out on top in the UFC 309 headliner.