UFC commentator and former two-division champion Daniel Cormier says there’s only one obvious course of action for the UFC heavyweight division. With the 265-pounders seemingly tied up by Francis Ngnanou’s contract drama and knee surgery, it might well be time for yet another interim championship. Who better, said DC on his show DC & RC, than former champ Stipe Miocic and Jon Jones?
“I think we’ll see another interim title. For me, what makes sense for that interim title is Stipe Miocic and Jon Jones. I think you put those two together and then no matter who wins, when Francis comes back, you have a massive fight waiting for you.”
DC Wants Miocic vs Jones for Interim Heavyweight Title
Cormier elaborated, pointing out that Stipe still hasn’t had a chance to fight for the title he lost to Francis Ngannou in 2021. In addition to that, Jon Jones has been promising a heavyweight debut for years now, but still hasn’t stepped into the Octagon. Perhaps the promise of UFC gold will be enough to tempt him back into competition.
“If Jon Jones fights at heavyweight, you want a belt on the line. You don’t want him just fighting. I used to think that, oh, put him against Curtis Blaydes or somebody else.
No, you put him in a fight where if he wins, the end visual is the belt getting strapped on him, even if it’s an interim title because then it just elevates the next fight.
So I think Stipe-Jones is the fight to make, and I can see a world where Ciryl Gane fights against Curtis Blaydes. The heavyweight division is interesting right now, and the champion being away doesn’t really hurt it all that much.”
Current heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou unified the division only weeks ago. Ngannou defeated Ciryl Gane via unanimous decision at UFC 270 in January, overcoming the then-undefeated interim champ despite an injured knee.
Now Ngannou needs surgery to fix his knees, and his ongoing contract dispute with the UFC may well prevent anyone from challenging for his title in the near future. Supposedly, Ngannou was only one fight away from the end of his contract, and although he will likely have to defend his belt under the “champion clause”, he has made it clear that he won’t be signing anything that doesn’t suit him.
Is Miocic vs Jones the interim title fight we didn’t know we needed? Let us know in the comments.
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