STIPE MIOCIC will have the biggest of axes to grind when he faces Jon Jones next weekend.
The former king of the heavyweights will bid to end Jones’ reign atop of the division a week on Sunday morning in the main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.
Former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic will return to the octagon at UFC 309GETTY
GETTYMiocic will look to dethrone current heavyweight king Jon Jones at Madison Square Garden[/caption]
Miocic, 42, hasn’t fought since his KO loss to Francis Ngannou in March 2021 and many have written off his chances of victory over JonesGETTY
GETTYMichael Bisping reckons Miocic will have a serious “chip on his shoulder” come fight night[/caption]
Miocic enters the clash of legends with a huge cloud of doubt hanging over him due to his three-and-a-half-year layoff following a vicious KO loss to Francis Ngannou.
The Cleveland clubber’s time off – coupled with him now being a weathered 42-year-old – has led a large portion of MMA fans and pundits to dismiss his chances of handing Jones his first legitimate loss.
Former middleweight champ Michael Bisping knows a thing or two about being counted out as he wasn’t given a hope in hell ahead of his short-notice title fight with Luke Rockhold in June 2016, which he won via first-round KO.
And ‘The Count’ believes Miocic will have a serious bee on his bonnet come fight night.
TNT Sports pundit Michael Bisping told SunSport: “I think he’s got a chip on his shoulder and I think he’s annoyed that he’s being so overlooked.
“I saw an interview he did yesterday and he was a man of few words.
“He usually is anyway, but he looked very irritated. And I think that is going to be his mindset, that he’s been overlooked and he’s been forgotten.
“That he’s angry. He’s going to come into this one wanting to prove a point and that’s a scary proposition.”
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How to Watch UFC 309
The UFC makes it’s annual visit to New York City on November 16 for another blockbuster pay-per-view card.
UFC 309 will take place at the iconic Madison Square Garden, which provided some unforgettable moments since mixed martial arts was legalised in New York state in 2016.
Topping the bill at the ‘World’s Most Famous Arena’ is the eagerly-anticipated heavyweight title fight between champion Jon Jones and former titleholder Stipe Miocic.
And in the co-main event of the evening, Michael Chandler will throw down with former lightweight champion and fellow fan favourite Charles Oliveira.
UFC 309 is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated cards of what has been another massive year for MMA’s top promotion.
And fans in the UK and Ireland can watch all the action from what promises to be an incredible night at MSG live on TNT Sports Box Office.
The penultimate pay-per-view card of the year will be available to purchase for a mere £19.99.
UFC 309 will also be available to buy on Discovery+, EE TV, Prime Video, Virgin Media TV and Sky Sports.
And fight fans don’t need to subscribe to TNT Sports to buy the star-studded event.
Watch UFC 309: Jones v Miocic exclusively live on TNT Sports Box Office from 1am on Saturday 16 November.
For more info visit: tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice
Bisping reckons a disrespected and motivated Miocic could end up being the toughest test of Jones’ Hall-of-Fame career.
He continued: “Stipe Miocic is naturally the bigger guy, he’s the stronger guy and he hits harder.
“If anyone is going to get knocked out by one punch, it’s going to be Jon Jones.
“He also has the wrestling to stop Jon Jones.
“Look at those fights with ‘DC’ [Daniel Cormier], he was able to give ‘DC’ as good as he got when it came to the wrestling department.
“For Stipe, he’s going to come in angry and very motivated.”
Former long-reigning 205lbs champion Jones has only been a fully-fledged heavyweight for the best part of 18 months and is still getting used to his new frame.
He is, however, by no means undersized in the weight class, which faces an uncertain future after his MSG melee with Miocic.
Michael Bisping reckons Stipe Miocic should put Jon Jones on the backfoot from the get-goGETTY
Although Bisping believes the more “natural” heavyweight in Miocic could cause him trouble if he adopts an aggressive game plan from the get-go.
“I think he’s going to walk Jon Jones down,” Bisping predicted. “Or he should anyway.
“He should put him on the back foot.
“Take it to him, use his physicality, use his natural strength and put it Jon Jones right from the opening bell.
“And I’m telling you, I think Stipe is gonna go out there and potentially surprise a lot of people.”
Watch UFC 309: Jones v Miocic exclusively live on TNT Sports Box Office from 1am on Saturday 16 November. For more info visit: tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice.
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