- Dana White announced that Stipe Miocic and Jon Jones will headline UFC 295 on November 11.
- The fight will be Jones’s first title defense of the UFC heavyweight title. He defeated Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight championship at UFC 285 in March.
- In 2021, Miocic lost the heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou following a thunderous KO at UFC 260.
Dana White has made it official for UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden. Jon Jones (27-1-0) will put his UFC heavyweight title on the line versus Stipe Miocic (20-4-0) in November. Jones is an overwhelming favorite to beat Miocic, as oddsmakers at BetUS opened heavily in his favor at -500.
On November 11, Jones and Miocic are expected to step into the UFC Octagon at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The fight comes three to five years later than most fight fans would have hoped. Regardless, the bout will be billed as one of the most prominent heavyweight fights in UFC history.
Miocic will be 41 years old when he steps into the Octagon in November. Jones has some miles on his body, but will be five years younger when they meet at UFC 295. If the fight came earlier in their careers, the odds likely wouldn’t have been so lopsided towards Jones.
In addition to being 41, Miocic will be coming off a nearly three-year layoff in UFC. He has not fought since losing the heavyweight belt to Francis Ngannou in 2021. The last time we saw Miocic in the Octagon, it was not a pretty sight.
Dana White announces Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic.
Nov 11 #UFC295 pic.twitter.com/ZSFQadegLC— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) July 7, 2023
Miocic Loses Heavyweight Title Via Devastating KO
In front of a small crowd due to Covid-19 restrictions, Ngannou unleashed a vicious blow to Miocic that sent the -140 favorite buckling to the canvas in the second round. The shot was strong enough to echo throughout the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas.
For good measure, Ngannou made sure that Miocic was out cold with a punch while Miocic lay motionless on the mat. Miocic was quickly rushed to the hospital for a CT scan following the loss, but fortunately, no long-term damage was done.
Despite Miocic avoiding a serious injury, he required plenty of time to get back on his feet and feel normal again. After suffering damage of this magnitude, it can take time for fighters to return to training form.
Damn, Stipe Miocic laid out on the canvas after that brutal 2nd round KO #UFC260 pic.twitter.com/bIXri142w1
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) March 28, 2021
Is Miocic Prepared To Fight?
While Miocic has rust to deal with, there is also the question if he is mentally and physically ready for Jones. Miocic is a fighter that has not been on the receiving end of those types of losses. It will be interesting to see how he responds almost three years later.
The crushing defeat resulted in Miocic receiving a 60-day medical suspension from the UFC by the Nevada Athletic Commission. While Miocic was not in any shape to step back into the gym, he was mandated to step away.
Ultimately, Ngannou was forced to vacate his UFC heavyweight title after failing to come to a contract resolution with the fight promotion in January. Ngannou was released from the UFC and immediately became a free agent.
The vacated heavyweight title set up an opportunity for Jones to scoop up the belt. As a -170 betting favorite, Jones defeated Gane via first-round submission. Jones applied a guillotine choke at 2:04 of the opening round to quickly force Gane to tap.
With the win, Jones became a heavyweight champion for the first time in his career. The victory follows what has been a Hall of Fame career for Jones. He owns several records and has had two runs in the UFC as the light heavyweight champion.
Could Miocic Be A Bad Matchup For Jones?
There will be bettors that take a chance on the hefty underdog. Currently, you can bet on Miocic to beat Jones at +300. This gives a Miocic win an implied probability of just 25%.
There are a few reasons why bettors will take a shot on the underdog in November. First, Jones is not the most experienced heavyweight in the UFC.
Jones’s bout versus Gane was his debut in the heavyweight division. He was matched up against a fighter that had limited skills as a wrestler on the mat.
Once Jones had position over Gane, it was game over. Miocic should offer more of a challenge to Jones in this regard. Additionally, does Miocic have to worry about getting knocked out again?
Jones does not have the same power as Ngannou. Miocic likely doesn’t have to worry about getting his head taken off in this fight. That said, the heavyweight veteran may not have the same chin as he did before getting knocked out a few years ago.
While Jones should handle his business, Miocic presents a different set of challenges than he faced against Gane.
Jon Jones 🤝 Jorge Masvidal pic.twitter.com/vX1iobunYR
— Fight Digitale (@fightdigitale) July 7, 2023
Jones Spotted Partying In Las Vegas
Partying in Las Vegas isn’t that unusual for a UFC fighter. However, Jones’s issues with alcohol have been well-documented in the past. The heavyweight champ was on video during UFC 290 fight week taking shots of alcohol with former UFC fighter, Jorge Masvidal, in a Las Vegas casino.
In 2021, Jones proclaimed ‘I will leave alcohol in my past forever’. The remarks came after Jones was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery domestic violence and felony tampering with a vehicle.
The charges were the result of a violent attack against his fiancée in a Las Vegas hotel room. It certainly isn’t the only time that Jones has seen the inside of a jail cell. A year earlier, Jones was arrested on aggravated DWI and negligent use of firearm charges.
White was asked whether he is concerned about Jones drinking again. While the UFC president noted that Jones is a grown man, he also said that more than 12 hours in Las Vegas probably isn’t a good idea.
With months to go before the fight, we will see if Jones can stay out of trouble. It might be his biggest enemy, as online betting sites do not believe that Miocic will put up much of a fight.
