Jon “Bones” Jones returned to the octagon in triumphant fashion with a first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. Immediately after claiming the heavyweight title, Jones called out former champ Stipe Miocic.
"Y'all want to see me beat up Stipe?"
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 5, 2023
Jon Jones called out Miocic after becoming heavyweight champion ???? #UFC285 pic.twitter.com/rbocduGATD
UFC president Dana White soon confirmed that a showdown with Miocic would indeed be Jones’ first defense of his heavyweight belt, and books wasted little time putting out odds with Bones opening as an early favorite at -325.
McGregor vs Chandler odds
| Fighter | Odds |
| Jon Jones | -325 |
| Stipe Miocic | +270 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook as of March 10, 2023.
Jones was a -450 favorite for his last title defense at light heavyweight and managed to edge Dominick Reyes in a controversial decision. After more than three years away from the octagon and with the uncertainty of moving up in weight, Jones opened as a +140 underdog against Gane.
However, money poured in on Jones who closed as the favorite at -170 and he made short work of Gane to prove those backers correct.
Now it's the 40-year-old Miocic who will have to answer questions about ring rust after getting starched by Francis Ngannou in his previous bout all the way back in March of 2021.
Miocic was a slim +110 underdog in that fight against Ngannou and he has only faced odds this steep once before in his career — all the way back in 2014 when he closed at +355 against Junior dos Santos and was knocked out.
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Jones vs Miocic tale of the tape
| Jon Jones | Stipe Miocic | |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Age | 40 |
| 6-foot-4 | Height | 6-foot-4 |
| 248 lbs | Weight | 234 lbs |
| 84.5 inches | Reach | 80 inches |
| 26-1-0 | Record | 20-4-0 |
After claiming the heavyweight title, Jones jumped to the top of the pound-for-pound UFC rankings and arguably clinched his place as the GOAT of MMA. However, he isn't resting on his laurels and believes that a matchup with Miocic would put a stamp on his legacy.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) March 10, 2023
Jones was the two-time light heavyweight champion and owns records for the longest unbeaten streak (19) and most title wins (15) in the promotion.
While Jones is viewed as the overall GOAT, Miocic is often considered to be the greatest heavyweight in history. Miocic successfully defended the heavyweight title four times during his two championship reigns and holds the heavyweight record for most consecutive title defenses with three.
Miocic is a well-rounded heavyweight who combines highly-technical boxing, strong wrestling, and exceptional cardio. However, his wrestling ability pales in comparison to Jones' credentials and he is nowhere near as dangerous as a grappler.
Jones is also elite on his feet where he uses his 84-inch reach, explosive kickboxing ability, and a tireless gas tank to pick apart his opponents from a variety of different angles.
It will be interesting to see what Miocic will weigh in for this bout. He has often been on the lighter side for a heavyweight and was 234 pounds when he fought Ngannou in 2021. However, he claimed he was up to 253 pounds when interviewed at UFC 285, which could ultimately help him handle Jones' power.
