Stipe Miocic Open to Fighting Jon Jones, Anyone UFC Brings
Stipe Miocic Open to Fighting Jon Jones, Anyone UFC Brings
UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is open to fights with Jon Jones, Cain Velasquez, or anyone else.
In a time when the words 'money fight' are rife, it's refreshing to hear a UFC champion say they will be ready to fight whoever the UFC determines the next contender to be.
UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is a man who says he's willing to take on any challenger put in front of him. He has no interest in picking and choosing.
"It honestly doesn't matter to me," Miocic told Submission Radio. "Whoever they want me to fight, I will fight. I'm the champ, but I'm not going to pick and choose who I fight. Whoever they want me to fight, I'm going to fight, so I don't care.
"I'm just a fighter, and I just tell them when I want to fight. That's all I'm worried about."
Following Miocic's win over Alistair Overeem a UFC 203, UFC interim light heavyweight champion Jon Jones took to social media to express his interest in facing the heavyweight king.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/JonnyBones/status/775184122805268480" hide_media="0" hide_thread="0"]
In response, Miocic remained diplomatic, saying it was flattering that guys such as Jones were now calling him out.
"It means I'm doing something right," Miocic said. "It's cool, man. It would be a great fight I think. It shows that I'm doing something right and that people want to fight me. It is what it is, man. I honestly don't care. Right now, I'm just living it up, and I'm not worried about fighting for a while.
"All I care about is keeping this belt for a long time. Listen, I'm going to take one fight at a time. I know I can be one of those guys that keeps the belt for a very long time and I know I'm going to."
Another option in the mix is Miocic taking on the winner of Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez, who are expected to meet at UFC 207 in December. Miocic said he couldn't pick a winner between the two but said it would come down to which fighter implemented his game plan better that night.
"It's tough. You know, Werdum got him last time, but Cain is getting better, and he's an amazing fighter," Miocic said. "I think it's going to be whoever implements the game plan better, you know? Werdum did that last time, and that's why he won the fight, you know? It will just depend on who gets to do what they want to do in the fight.
"Like I said, I'll fight whoever the UFC wants me to fight," Miocic reiterated, this time laughing after repeating the sentiment. "If the UFC wants me to fight Werdum, I'll fight Werdum. If the UFC wants me to fight Cain, I'll fight Cain. Whoever they want me to fight, it will be for a reason, so I'll fight whoever they want me to fight."
UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is a man who says he's willing to take on any challenger put in front of him. He has no interest in picking and choosing.
"It honestly doesn't matter to me," Miocic told Submission Radio. "Whoever they want me to fight, I will fight. I'm the champ, but I'm not going to pick and choose who I fight. Whoever they want me to fight, I'm going to fight, so I don't care.
"I'm just a fighter, and I just tell them when I want to fight. That's all I'm worried about."
Following Miocic's win over Alistair Overeem a UFC 203, UFC interim light heavyweight champion Jon Jones took to social media to express his interest in facing the heavyweight king.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/JonnyBones/status/775184122805268480" hide_media="0" hide_thread="0"]
In response, Miocic remained diplomatic, saying it was flattering that guys such as Jones were now calling him out.
"It means I'm doing something right," Miocic said. "It's cool, man. It would be a great fight I think. It shows that I'm doing something right and that people want to fight me. It is what it is, man. I honestly don't care. Right now, I'm just living it up, and I'm not worried about fighting for a while.
"All I care about is keeping this belt for a long time. Listen, I'm going to take one fight at a time. I know I can be one of those guys that keeps the belt for a very long time and I know I'm going to."
Another option in the mix is Miocic taking on the winner of Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez, who are expected to meet at UFC 207 in December. Miocic said he couldn't pick a winner between the two but said it would come down to which fighter implemented his game plan better that night.
"It's tough. You know, Werdum got him last time, but Cain is getting better, and he's an amazing fighter," Miocic said. "I think it's going to be whoever implements the game plan better, you know? Werdum did that last time, and that's why he won the fight, you know? It will just depend on who gets to do what they want to do in the fight.
"Like I said, I'll fight whoever the UFC wants me to fight," Miocic reiterated, this time laughing after repeating the sentiment. "If the UFC wants me to fight Werdum, I'll fight Werdum. If the UFC wants me to fight Cain, I'll fight Cain. Whoever they want me to fight, it will be for a reason, so I'll fight whoever they want me to fight."