With UFC 309 around the corner, Michael Bisping believes Stipe Miocic is being vastly underestimated in his upcoming title challenge against heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Miocic, known as one of the UFC’s greatest heavyweights, is set to face Jones on November 16 at Madison Square Garden. However, many are doubting his chances, especially since he hasn’t competed since March 2021, when he suffered a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou.
In Bisping’s view, overlooking Miocic is a serious mistake. On his YouTube channel, Bisping shared his thoughts: “I’m telling you right now, everyone’s overlooking Stipe Miocic, and these people are absolutely out of their minds.” He pointed to the odds as evidence, noting that Jones is heavily favoured at -600 while Miocic sits as a +440 underdog:
“This guy is a massive underdog. He is being overlooked, disrespected, completely forgotten about in the heavyweight division, and this man has an opportunity to go out there and shock the entire world, beat Jon Jones, and become the undisputed heavyweight champion,” Bisping added.
Michael Bisping on Fans Overlooking Stipe Miocic at UFC 309
Bisping also addressed why he thinks people are doubting Miocic:
“People are underestimating Stipe Miocic, and why is that? It’s because the last time we saw Stipe Miocic was UFC 260, March 2021 at the UFC Apex when he went up against Francis Ngannou,” he explained. According to Bisping, the memory of that brutal knockout loss still lingers. “That’s what people remember. This sport is about what have you done for me lately, and people forget everything Stipe did.”
For Bisping, Miocic’s record speaks for itself. “People forget that Stipe, on paper, is the greatest heavyweight to ever fight in the UFC’s octagon. He defended the belt three times, which is something nobody else has ever done,” he emphasized, highlighting Miocic’s place in UFC history. He’s the only heavyweight champion to defend his title three times consecutively, a feat that Bisping thinks deserves more respect.
Additionally, Bisping speculates that Miocic’s time away from the cage may benefit him, suggesting he could return refreshed and free from the physical toll of his last loss. He believes Miocic is coming into this fight with something to prove, especially as fans and pundits seem more focused on a potential Jones bout with interim champ Tom Aspinall:
Tom Aspinall Saga
“This man feels disrespected,” Bisping noted. “He feels overlooked. He knows the entire world is talking about Jon Jones, will he or won’t he fight Tom Aspinall, the interim champ. Don’t tell me that doesn’t piss you off.”
Bisping believes Miocic’s pride and experience make him a serious threat. “When you’re somebody like Stipe Miocic, a proud man, a very capable man, a former champion, a two-time heavyweight champion of the world and people are just overlooking you? Jesus Christ, that is a powerful motivator,” he said, underscoring Miocic’s drive.
How do you see the fight playing out between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
