UFC CEO Dana White is standing his ground amid growing backlash to the long-running heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. Originally scheduled as the main event of UFC 295 in November 2023, the bout was postponed after Jones tore a chest ligament. Rather than develop backup fighter Sergei Pavlovich, the UFC opted to wait for Jones to recover, and set the fight in November. But the decision has sparked controversy, largely because of the rise of interim leader Tom Aspinall.
“What am I doing?” he asked. he asked. White asked rhetorically during a press conference after the final episode of The Contender Series. “Jon Jones is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights in the UFC. This fight was set up, but then Jon got injured. It’s not his fault. He has to wait and get back to training camp. Do I just walk away from Stipe and say, ‘Stay aside for two years’? If I did, you’d all be like, “Oh, you underestimated the greatest heavylifter ever!” So I just have to knock Stipe up because Jon got hurt? No, that’s not how this works.”
Criticism of Miocic’s Title Shot
Criticism surrounding the Jones-Miocic fight has been heightened by Miocic’s recent inactivity and Aspinall’s emergence as a major force in the division The 42-year-old Miocic hasn’t fought in over three years, and his last appearance his appearance ended in the brutal beating of Francis Nganno. In that time, Aspinall has racked up five victories over ranked heavyweights, including securing the interim title when the UFC dropped the Jones-Miocic fight at UFC 295.
Reporters questioned White about why Miocic was still being given a title shot under these circumstances, but White remained adamant. “I have two legends of the game that wanted to fight,” White insisted. “These guys are lined up, one guy gets hurt, and this is the fight they both want. what do you do? Don’t you respect them? I promise you this: if Stipe wins, he will retire. This will be his last fight. So you’re telling me I should just tell Stipe to screw off? ‘You’re good, Stipe. Take a chariot to the sunset, fight a fire, that’s for you because Jon is hurt.’ Or do I show him due respect and give them the fight they want? That’s where I belong.”
White’s Respect for Miocic’s Legacy
White’s decision also impacts Miocic’s legacy in the game. As a two-time UFC heavyweight champion and widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, Miocic’s contributions to the sport are undeniable “If Stipe was 32 years old , then yeah, [an interim title fight] is probably what we would do ,” White said. “But this may be Stipe’s last fight, win or lose, and I’m not going to underestimate the guy. He accepted the fight, he was ready to fight, and Jon got hurt.”
Aspinall’s Future in the Heavyweight Division
Of course, this delay has been a sore shot for Espinal, who is bidding for a dubious title after winning the provisional belt. But White believes Aspinall’s time will come. “Aspinall is a young, badass dude,” White said. “He has a lot of time. These guys are going to fight in November, and if he wins, he will fight Jon Jones, I can pretty much guarantee you that. And if Stipe wins, we’ll see what’s next for Aspinall.” White comments suggest that while the focus is now on the Jones-Miocic match, the UFC has not forgotten about the division’s rising stars.
