Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic hasn’t been seen much since losing his title to Francis Ngannou in January 2021.
In recent weeks, Miocic has been linked with a fight with Jon Jones who is expected to make his heavyweight debut in November or December.
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Miocic was savagely knocked out by Ngannou in his last UFC fight
According to former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, Miocic has seriously bloated during his time away from the sport and is now a serious problem for anyone competing at heavyweight.
“I’m training with Stipe, he’s my boy, I was hanging out with him last night. Bro, he’s gotten big. He’s doing it quietly. He’s like a solid 250 right now, a solid 250 and every time “He decides to come back, he’s a problem. I don’t think Jon Jones wants this fight. Weidman told The Schmo.
The 38-year-old wanted to warn Jones of what he was getting into by accepting a fight with the most successful heavyweight champion of all time.
“If he thinks he’s going to face a 225-pound Stipe, he’s wrong. You’ve got a big, strong boy who just keeps showing up and believes in himself and is very well-rounded. is a different beast right now,” Weidman added.
Jones hasn’t fought since defending his lightweight title in a controversial decision against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February 2020.
After the fight, ‘Bones’ gave up his 205-pound strap and announced his intention to compete at heavyweight in the future, but his debut in the division was delayed as he focused on bulking up and the resolution of a contractual dispute with the UFC.
@bokamotoESPN – twitter
Miocic and Weidman train together and share the same manager
Jones spent two years working on her new body
Jones has two options on the table
In the aftermath of UFC 276, the 34-year-old explained why he would rather face Miocic than the man who recently knocked him out to win the heavyweight title and then became the undisputed champion by defeating Ciryl Gane.
“At this point I’m looking to fight Stipe [Miocic], I think that proves a lot more. Fight a pretty one-dimensional fighter fresh out of knee surgery [Francis Ngannou]. I dunno, I believe beating Stipe says more at this point,” Jones wrote on social media.
It remains to be seen if Weidman’s Miocic update will cause Jones to reconsider his stance on his preferred opponent for his heavyweight debut.
Weidman hasn’t fought since suffering a horrific broken leg 17 seconds into his bout with Uriah Hall at UFC 261 in April last year. The American hopes to be able to return to the Octagon later this year.
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