Jon Anik’s Take on Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic at UFC 309
As Jon Jones prepares to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic this Saturday at UFC 309, MMA fans are buzzing with anticipation. However, as commentator Jon Anik explained, this fight could have broader implications for the heavyweight division and future matchups, particularly involving Tom Aspinall and Alex Pereira.
Anik recently shared his thoughts on the upcoming Jon Jones Stipe Miocic title fight, raising questions about who will be next for the division’s top fighters. While Tom Aspinall holds the interim heavyweight belt, many fans believe he should get a shot at Jones to unify the titles. However, Jones has shown more interest in a potential champion-vs-champion matchup with Alex Pereira, currently the light heavyweight titleholder.
“Well, certainly it stands to reason that Alex ‘Poatan’ may be the bigger money fight,” Anik shared. “It may not be the fight that has the greater fan appetite…But ‘Poatan’ versus Jon Jones is absolutely enormous, right?”
While fans would love a Jon Jones Stipe Miocic showdown, Anik acknowledged that from a business perspective, a fight between Jones and Pereira could be more lucrative. Aspinall, who has defended the interim title, brings unique skills to the division, but Jones seems hesitant to risk his record against Aspinall, leaving some to wonder if finances alone should decide the next fight.
“If Jon Jones is worth $25-$30 million… If you were his manager, would you tell him to risk the O and legacy because he should fight Tom, because Tom’s got the interim belt and Tom’s the f*cking man?” Anik continued.
From Anik’s perspective, UFC President Dana White and Hunter Campbell might lean toward making a Jones vs. Aspinall fight rather than introducing Pereira into the heavyweight title picture. However, with Jon Jones Stipe Miocic taking centre stage at UFC 309, there are still options for the UFC to explore after Saturday’s bout.
What’s at Stake for the UFC 309 Headliners?
Discussing the fight’s stakes, Anik highlighted the unpredictability of how Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic might perform, particularly given Jones’ limited heavyweight experience and Miocic’s extended break from the octagon.
“Well, I don’t try to get too predictive…but how do you really predict what you’re gonna see out of both of these athletes?” Anik noted.
Anik pointed out that while Jon Jones has only fought once as a heavyweight, Stipe Miocic is now 42, with his last fight against Francis Ngannou occurring in 2021. However, Miocic appears to have approached his training camp with intense focus, working on his stamina to face a younger, more active Jones.
“I do think it stands to reason if the fight is contested early on the feet that Stipe can land some shots and look better than whatever the betting line suggests he is,” Anik added.
Fans are eagerly awaiting UFC 309, as the result of Jon Jones Stipe Miocic could reshape the heavyweight division. Anik emphasized the importance of clarity in this division, hoping for a definitive result on Saturday that sets the stage for future matchups with fighters like Aspinall.
“We need clarity and finality and a result when it comes to these two absolute legends,” Anik concluded.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
