Stipe Miocic mum on future after Jon Jones at UFC 295: 'Once it's done, we'll figure it out'

03/10/2023 16:00

While Jon Jones has publicly said his UFC 295 heavyweight championship title defense against Stipe Miocic may be his final fight, the challenger isn't ready to do the same.

Miocic looks to become a three-time heavyweight champion when he faces Jones in the main event of the UFC's return to Madison Square Garden on Nov. 11. Ahead of the blockbuster matchup, Miocic was mum on the subject.

"I've thought about that since after my first UFC fight," Miocic, who was promoting a partnership with Buffalo Wild Wings, told MMA Fighting. "Right now, I'm just focused on Nov. 11. That's all I care about. Once it's done, we'll figure it out."

At UFC 295, Miocic makes his first octagon appearance since losing the title to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 in March 2021.

Miocic, the longest-reigning champ in divisional history, entered his second meeting with Ngannou on the heels of back-to-back victories against Daniel Cormier. After losing to Ngannou, he hoped to get a trilogy with Ngannou. But the thought of having his next championship opportunity against Jones wasn't even on his radar until Jones won the title at UFC 285 and then called for the fight with him.

"No, [I didn't think that was possible], there was a lot going on," Miocic said. "It was tough, because Francis was still around, and they were trying to put that together. Then he left, and they were trying to make the Jon Jones fight [for me], and every time we would figure it out, they would move it in a different direction.

"It made it a lot easier when he was calling me out, so I was happy with that. But [despite the dates being moved], I knew I would get it. I wasn't worried."

In a year where massive underdogs Alexa Grasso, Sean O'Malley, and Sean Strickland defied the odds to pull off upset championship-winning victories, Miocic plans on adding his name to the list, with the 41-year-old planning on letting his performance do the talking for him.

"When you see me walking out with the belt and everyone saying, 'and new,' you're going to find out real quick," Miocic said.