NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 15: (L-R) Opponents Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic face off throughout the UFC 309 ceremonial weigh-in at The Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard on November 15, 2024 in New York Metropolis. (Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)Each Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic will look to place the right bow on their careers, doubtlessly, as they conflict at UFC 309.
At a time when superstardom for combined martial artists includes crossing over into different media, Jon Jones stays completely different. The longtime light-heavyweight champion and now heavyweight kingpin stays, over a decade later, a field workplace attraction of the best order with out having crossed over into main movement photos, tv, or music. When you want convincing, then you must look no additional than the astronomical resale costs for tickets to his cancelled battle final November.
Whereas his skilled profession has been a dramatic saga, to say the least, his standing as essentially the most dominant expertise the game has ever seen stays unquestioned. There’s certainly nice demand to see him check himself in opposition to a subsequent technology expertise in Tom Aspinall, however the truth is there’ll at all times be one other up-and-comer who rises by means of the ranks. After years of dominance, Jones has the prospect to place the right capstone on his profession and retire as a reigning champion and formally lock him into his place in MMA historical past. Including a expertise like Aspinall could be an enormous feather in his cap. However Jones would wish to ask himself if it’s even value it when there’ll at all times be one other to stand up by means of the ranks anyway.
“TOO ****ING EASY!” 😤
The scenario is analogous and but uniquely completely different for Stipe Miocic. Probably the most embellished UFC heavyweight champion in promotional historical past additionally has victories over among the greatest fighters the burden class has ever seen up to now decade. Whereas Jones is new to the burden class, the layoff for Miocic virtually serves as a leaping off level. His departure coincided with the emergence of a brand new wave of contenders like Aspinall, Ciryl Gane, Sergei Spivac, and extra over the previous 24 months. Like Jones, Miocic might proceed to pursue bouts with the subsequent period of fighters. However after attaining a lot at this stage of his profession, one begins to weigh whether or not or not it’s value it to undergo the wrestle of climbing the ladder once more.
A victory for Saturday could be a seminal one in a profession that has seen loads of triumphs. For one, the UFC would virtually instantly up the monetary achieve for each males to promote a right away rematch ought to Miocic pull off the upset. Or ought to Jones resolve in any other case, Miocic would additionally get a shot at a second main payday to defend in opposition to Aspinall as a way to doubtlessly construct the budding English star. Contemplating that Miocic has not seen the cage since March of 2021, to be in dialogue for such matches amidst a number of well-performing contenders is an enviable place. That, is after all, if that’s what he chooses to do. One might argue there may very well be no higher second to name it a profession than by upsetting the GOAT of the complete sport.
A victory for Jones is anticipated to result in him to see how a lot the UFC could be keen to supply for him to increase his profession and face present interim champion Tom Aspinall. That battle could be amongst the largest to be made in 2025. A victory for Miocic would doubtless have an identical dialogue if Jones chooses to retire off a loss, however most anticipate that the UFC would take the chance and pay each males for what could be a profitable instant rematch for all events concerned.
