Stipe Miocic unfazed by all of the chatter round Tom Aspinall getting into UFC 309 matchup with Jon Jones

The nearer we get to Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view card inside New York’s Madison Sq. Backyard, the much less we appear to be speaking in regards to the full-time firefighter and UFC legend who makes up one half of the principle occasion.

As Jon Jones units out to make the primary title protection of his heavyweight crown in his return to the Octagon after 20 months as a result of a torn pectoral tendon, the combat week narratives have, as an alternative, largely surrounded what Jones will do subsequent if he wins and whether or not he’ll retire earlier than giving interim titleholder Tom Aspinall an opportunity to unify towards him. 

Fortunately for Stipe Miocic (20-4), probably the most achieved heavyweight champion in UFC historical past with 4 title defenses over two reigns, driving under the radar is precisely the place he desires to be. 

“I am too busy for that,” Miocic informed CBS Sports activities final week. “I work fulltime and have two youngsters and a spouse who’re loopy and superior. There’s all the time one thing occurring. It is by no means ending and I like each second of it so I’ve no time to take a seat there and harm somebody’s emotions on social media.”

The soft-spoken and blue-collar Miocic will sq. off towards Jones (27-1, 1 NC) within the native of Ohio’s first look since shedding his title to Francis Ngannou by way of brutal second-round knockout of their 2021 rematch. Miocic was initially scheduled to combat Jones final November in the identical constructing at UFC 295 earlier than the damage sidelined Jones and compelled CEO Dana White to delay the star-studded combat by one yr.

The delay angered many followers who would’ve most popular Jones return towards Tom Aspinall (15-3), the UFC’s interim heavyweight titleholder, who has laid waste to 1 prime contender after one other in Jones’ absence. 

Whereas Miocic has heard a number of the rhetoric being shared by critics, together with those that convey up the truth that he hasn’t received a combat since 2020, true to kind he could not care much less. Even when reminded of what number of followers introduced up Miocic’s age after watching him enter a UFC area earlier this yr as a fan — with many declaring that it appeared as if Miocic was limping — all he might do was chuckle. 

“I like shutting folks up,” Miocic mentioned. “I am strolling tremendous. I am good. I really feel nice.”

Chris Weidman, a former UFC middleweight champion who will compete on Saturday’s undercard in a 185-pound bout towards Eryk Anders, informed CBS Sports activities on Thursday that he believes his shut pal Miocic has been dealt a uncooked deal by the media this week. 

“Truthfully, I really feel you guys must be speaking about Stipe Miocic greater than you might be speaking about Tom Aspinall,” Weidman mentioned. “I really feel like everyone seems to be overlooking Stipe on this combat. If Stipe will get a win on Saturday night time, that is not even a speaking level anymore and I really feel like Stipe is being disrespected so much. 

“Jones goes to do what he desires to do, at this level. I really feel unhealthy for Aspinall, it is only a bizarre time to be champion with Jon Jones developing and beating Cyril Gane like that. Tom Aspinall has been wanting nice, ending all of those powerful dudes. He has this interim belt however what does an interim belt imply he cannot even combat for the actual belt? It is a powerful factor for him however it’s simply form of how the UFC works and it is simply bizarre timing for him.”

After lately partnering with OnlyFans, Miocic gave his followers an inside have a look at his coaching camp for this historic matchup on an episode of OFTV’s “Rise and Grind,” which premiered on Tuesday. 

.@StipeMiocic is able to shock the world âš¡ Watch him swing for the UFC Heavyweight belt on #RiseAndGrind!

📺 Streaming NOW: https://t.co/rgPtnhg5FC pic.twitter.com/5KmCIa3uLA

— OFTV (@watchOFTV) November 12, 2024

Miocic went on to elucidate that he was by no means provided an interim title shot towards Aspinall throughout Jones’ damage restoration and by no means requested for one. To him, an inevitable return to the Octagon was all the time about preventing Jones and nobody else. 

“Endurance is a advantage. It is what I needed and I am joyful I bought it,” Miocic mentioned. “I am all the time the underdog, which is okay with me. I am a really aggressive individual and I like what I do. It is nothing new [being overlooked], I am used to it at this level. I actually do not care, I actually do not care what different folks suppose and it is how I used to be raised. Nothing is ever given, it is earned. My mom and father all the time instilled in me to exit and get what’s yours and by no means sit again anticipating issues to be given to you. I all the time figured that if you do not have a means, you must make your means.

“They are saying you may’t educate an outdated canine new methods however I am positively not that outdated and I positively realized some new methods. And I will be leaving that Octagon with the belt.”