Stipe Miocic on Jon Jones Matchup: ‘You’ll See What the Difference Is’ in July

Stipe Miocic didn’t seem as impressed with Jon Jones’ heavyweight debut as the rest of the world was after UFC 285.

Jones captured the vacant heavyweight strap with a first-round submission of Ciryl Gane in Saturday’s main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday. The victory sets up a showdown with Miocic at a future event. The target date for that bout is rumored to be UFC 290 on July 8, but nothing is currently set in stone.

“Honestly, I thought it was going to a decision,” Miocic said during the UFC 285 post-fight show on ESPN+. “I didn’t know how Jon was, he took three years off but hats off to him. You see some things, I’ll keep them to myself but I definitely see some things [I can use].

“It’s a fight, he won, good for him. Hats off, but unfortunately he’s got to fight me in July.”

While much was made of the size Jones added to make the transition to heavyweight, Miocic pointed out that everyone in the division is pretty big. He also promised that he’ll bring a different challenge to Jones than what Gane provided.

“He’s a big boy. “He’s 6-foot-4, 247 [pounds] or something like that, “Miocic said. “I’m bigger than that. We’re all big boys at heavyweight. I actually weigh more than both of them right now. I actually weigh 253 [pounds] so it’s kind of nice.

“I think a lot of things [about the fight]. Just something he hasn’t seen before. I know it’s cliché and everyone says it but honestly that’s the truth.”

As far as preparation, Miocic doesn’t plan to alter much as he prepares for the former light heavyweight champion.

“Nothing’s going to change,” Miocic said. “I’m going to train my ass off and I’m going to beat that ass. Yes, 100 percent no questions [I want July]. I wanted this fight in March, it just didn’t work out. They gave it to Ciryl but unfortunately I’ll wait until July, it’s fine.

“You’ll see in July. You’ll see what the difference is, I’ll tell you right now.”

Miocic hasn’t competed since UFC 260 on March 27, 2021, when he relinquished the heavyweight crown in a second-round knockout loss to Francis Ngannou. The Ohio-based firefighter still holds the promotion record for most consecutive heavyweight title defenses with three and has two championship reigns to his credit. Miocic owns notable wins over the likes of Daniel Cormier (twice), Ngannou, Junior dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum, Andrei Arlovski, Mark Hunt, Gabriel Gonzaga and Roy Nelson.