Why Jones vs. Miocic is a pointless fight

In two weeks, UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones will return to the octagon to face former Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic.

Five years ago, this matchup would have been a blockbuster event—an ultimate clash between two of the greatest in the sport. But now, in 2024, this fight feels misplaced and perhaps even unnecessary. Here’s a closer look at why this once-dream matchup now feels anticlimactic.

Inactivity

The first issue is inactivity. Jones last fought on March 4, 2023, more than a year ago, and before that, he hadn’t competed since 2020 in a match he arguably lost to Dominick Reyes. With such limited fighting over recent years, it’s unclear why Jones still holds the title without regular defenses to back it up.

Miocic, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since March 27, 2021—over three years ago. His last win dates back even further, making it difficult to justify a title shot, especially considering he hasn’t faced any active contenders in the heavyweight division since.

Age

Jones has been a staple in the UFC for 16 years, but his prime is clearly behind him. He barely scraped by in his last light heavyweight fight, and his only heavyweight win came against Ciryl Gane, who now appears more interested in acting than competing for titles.

Gane, at the time, was also coming off a loss to Francis Ngannou, and his win over Tai Tuivasa hasn’t aged well, as Tuivasa may soon be out of the UFC entirely.

Miocic, at 42, hasn’t fought since he was 38. His last performance showed signs of decline, and today, he even uses a cane to walk. Expecting him to be a competitive force against Jones feels unrealistic given his age and inactivity.

Other Competition

Another factor is the absence of viable contenders in this title match. Jones has repeatedly declined to face the current interim heavyweight champ, Tom Aspinall, likely due to concerns about preserving his legacy. Aspinall, with his momentum and skill, could pose a genuine threat to Jones’ status as one of the all-time greats.

Moreover, Miocic’s spot in this fight overlooks several active, high-ranking fighters more deserving of a title shot. Ideally, Miocic should have fought a top contender over the last year to validate this opportunity.

If the UFC and Miocic were worried about potential losses to fighters like Sergei Spivak, then why should he now be fighting the reigning champion?

Jones Will Dominate

This fight will likely end in a decisive Jones victory. Miocic hasn’t won in over four years and now faces the reigning champion after a long layoff. If Jones was able to submit the number one ranked Gane with ease in the first round, it’s difficult to see Miocic, who is older and has been out of the cage for years, posing much of a challenge.

Miocic’s last fight ended in a knockout, and his opponent went on to defeat Gane, who was similarly outclassed by Jones.

This matchup doesn’t add much to Jones’ legacy; defeating an aging, barely active opponent doesn’t bolster his claim to greatness.

While Jones vs. Miocic may attract viewership and headlines, the fight doesn’t carry the competitive weight it once would have. For Jones’ legacy, a matchup against an active, top-ranked contender like Aspinall or Alex Pereira would provide far more significance than a fight with Miocic.

Alec Brown is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him please email aeb6680@psu.edu.