Matt Brown, who has recently retired from the UFC, does not get the criticism at the fight. Especially Jon Jones and Miocic have great accomplishments. Stipe Miocic has made it crystal clear that he’s only interested in coming back to fight Jon Jones. It looks like that match will finally happen in November. Miocic also recently said that he’s not the one who is delaying the heavyweight division because the UFC ultimately decides the matchups.
The same goes for Jones, who postponed the fight with Miocic after tearing a pectoral muscle, which has kept him sidelined for the past year. While Jones hasn’t decided on his long-term plans beyond that fight, he is determined to face Miocic next, aiming to add one of the greatest heavyweights in UFC history to his record.
Matt Brown not understanding why people criticize
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Recently retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown doesn’t understand why people are criticizing the fight. Especially considering the achievements of Jones and Brown in their careers. One of the main issues with Miocic getting this chance is that he hasn’t fought in the octagon since 2021. He lost badly against Francis. Ngannou knocked him out and took his UFC heavyweight title.
But Miocic isn’t the first champ to get a title shot after a loss. Israel Adesanya, for example, is facing a similar situation as the Champ. He also lost a fight to Sean Strickland, and he’s set to fight Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight title at UFC 305 in August. Many other former champions have been given similar chances too.
Miocic on the issue of age of fighting
Regarding Miocic making a comeback at 42, Matt Brown believes age would be a bigger issue if Miocic were competing in the bantamweight division. But since that’s not the situation, it’s less of a concern. However, the fighter has voiced his concern about no longer being as young as he once was in a young man’s game. He further clarified in an interview, “There’s just not the same speed and reaction thing [at heavyweight].”
Among the current top-15 UFC rankings, the youngest fighter is Serghei Spivac at 29. He’s the only heavyweight champion at the age of 20, with only a handful under 35. While time off could worry Miocic, it might not impact him as much as lighter-weight fighters. Heavyweight fighters can turn the fight in their favor with one well-placed shot. As Miocic demonstrated in his comeback win against Daniel Cormier, rallying in the later rounds to secure a knockout victory despite a tough start.
Discussing the transition of Jones
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Matt Brown doesn’t think Jones is changing his champion status by waiting for Miocic instead of taking on interim champion Tom Aspinall or another ranked heavyweight. Jones has repeatedly focused that Miocic represents an opponent’s character that enhances his already storied career. Less established fighters, he argues, don’t bring the same level of prestige because they haven’t achieved as much. In the same interview as mentioned above he elaborated, “I get it, people are complaining that Jon is not building his résumé at heavyweight.”
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