Jones vs Miocic: What Does it Take to Win the UFC 295 Title?

The most successful heavyweight fighter in UFC history coming off a two-and-a-half year hiatus to face perhaps the greatest to ever step foot in the Octagon, it’s hard to write a better script than Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic. 

When two legends of the sport clash, it’s impossible to know for sure who’s going to come out on top. 

We’ll be discussing the key factors that could decide who’s taking home the UFC 295 heavyweight title, as well as important Jones vs Miocic fight details including the date and location. 

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A Legacy-Defining Fight

• Fight Details: UFC 295 – Jones vs Miocic
• When: Nov 11th, 2023
• Where: Madison Square Garden, New York City
• TV: ESPN+ PPV ($79.99)
• Ticker Price: Starting at $667

What’s at Stake?

Win or lose, Miocic has already cemented his reputation as the greatest heavyweight in UFC history. That doesn’t mean this fight would mean nothing to his legacy, in fact, it would probably go down as one of the greatest wins in the history of the sport. But for Jones, this represents a serious test for his GOAT candidacy. 

If Jones goes out in November and destroys a heavyweight titan in Miocic, his title as the greatest ever starts to become irrefutable. Meanwhile, a loss could open the debate for other fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Anderson Silva. 

Now, let’s dive into three key aspects that might be the deciding factor in the UFC 295 title fight. 

The Quickness of Miocic

Former two-weight champion Daniel Cormier thinks we’ll know very early on in this fight who will come out on top. 

“This fight will be determined very early, at least in my opinion,” Cormier explained on his YouTube channel “Because we will know from the very start of the fight whether or not we are seeing the Stipe Miocic from before or if we’re seeing a slowed down version of the former champion.”

The 41-year-old Miocic is coming off a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, during which he served as a firefighter and paramedic in the Cleveland area. With his greatest advantage over Jon Jones being speed, if he’s lost a step since 2021, this fight might be over fairly quickly. 

Jones Heavyweight Speed 

Jon Jones is undoubtedly one of the greatest fighters of all time, but he’s never been known as someone who dominated with lightning-fast reflexes. More of a master of timing, Jones tends to fight even slower now that he’s a heavyweight, which we saw during his emphatic title-grabbing victory over Ciryl Gane. 

This slower and heavier version of Jones could be in for some unexpected trouble if Miocic comes out looking like his prime self. Stipe has always been one of the more agile heavyweight fighters in UFC, and it could be the edge he needs to claim an unexpected victory.

Will the Fight Stay Upright? 

Without a doubt, Jones is the superior MMA wrestler, meaning Miocic will more than likely need to keep this fight off the ground if he wants to come out victorious. And the numbers back that up. 

Miocic lands more significant strikes per minute than Jones (4.82 vs 4.29) which should help make up for Jones’ advantages as a defender (64% vs 54% defense). One of the heaviest hitters that Jones has ever faced, Miocic will need to stay upright and consistently land blows to wear down the younger Jones if he wants to overcome odds of over +300 to win. 

Final Thoughts

They might be a few years past their respective primes, but Miocic vs Jones is still firmly among the ranks of must-watch UFC events. 

While Jones is a newcomer to the heavyweight class, betting lines have him as the heavy favorite thanks to Miocic’s age and extended leave of absence from the sport. The outcome of this fight is really going to come down to how Stipe looks on his return. If he hasn’t lost a step and is in great shape, this fight will probably be a lot closer than people realize. But, if he comes out looking his age, it’s hard to see anyone but Jon Jones winning at UFC 295.