Jon Jones' coach, Greg Jackson, recently explained why his star pupil is slated to face Stipe Miocic next rather than Tom Aspinall.
"Bones" is preparing for what could be both the first and final defense of his undisputed heavyweight title as he faces former champion Miocic in the headlining bout of UFC 309. The highly anticipated showdown is set for November 16 at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City.
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This matchup has been a priority for Jones since his heavyweight debut in March 2023. He’s even considered retiring after potentially defeating Miocic, widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight champion.
The Jones vs. Miocic matchup has faced considerable backlash from the MMA community, with many arguing that interim heavyweight champion Aspinall, who is also the backup fighter, is the rightful challenger.
Some have even suggested that Jones should remain available after UFC 309 for a title unification bout. However, "Bones" has consistently dismissed the prospect, making it clear he has no interest in facing Aspinall.
Jackson Defends Jones vs. Miocic Matchup: 'It's Really Two Legends Fighting Each Other'
During a recent episode of the WEIGHING IN podcast, Jackson was prompted to shed light on Jones' fervor to face Miocic next, rather than focusing on rising contenders like Aspinall or Curtis Blaydes.
The Jackson's MMA Acoma founder elaborated that this fight represents a legacy moment for "Bones." He emphasized that while there will always be emerging challengers, the upcoming bout at UFC 309 is a legendary clash aimed at determining who truly stands out among the elite.
I think because Stipe is so legendary—I mean, the guy's one of the best heavyweights," Jackson said. "You could argue he's one of the best heavyweights ever—so I think that's the challenge that Jon needs because there's always going to be young guys coming up, there's always going to be a new phenom, and there's always going to be another guy that's like, 'Oh, this guy's super tough.' So I think the attraction for Jon in that is it's really two legends fighting each other.
Jackson further emphasized that Jones has accomplished so much in his career that he no longer feels the need to validate himself against any competitor; he can choose whoever he wants to fight.
At this point in Jon's career, he doesn't need to fight; he could stop today and be fine. But I think that gets him up for Stipe—the idea of Stipe and how great he is, and how tough he is, and to compete against that. I think he's looking for a legacy thing, in my opinion... I do know that we had this fight locked up before any of that drama happened, so to me, it would be a terrible move to tell Stipe, 'Oh, never mind, we're not gonna fight you after all; we're gonna go after this guy.' I mean, Stipe deserves better than that. He's not only a great fighter but also a great guy.
Jones was last active when he captured the heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. He was scheduled to fight Miocic at UFC 295 last November, but "Bones" was forced to withdraw just days before the bout due to a pectoral injury.