16 April 2023 , 14:50
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Jon Jones has hinted that his potential UFC title defence against Stipe Miocic could be his final fight before retirement.
UFC legend Jones made his switch up to the heavyweight division this year ending his hiatus from the octagon by becoming champion with a submission victory over Cyril Gane. 'Bones' has accomplished almost everything available during his lengthy stint in the UFC and is currently in the twlight years of his career.
A host of potential challengers are emerging in the top division including long-term rival Miocic with UFC president Dana White suggesting the fight will be held in New York soon. But in a social media post, Jones has dropped a bombshell insisting he may be approaching his final bow.
He tweeted: "How cool would it be to spend my retirement fight dominating the greatest heavyweight of all time, in my home state at Madison Square Garden?" White had already suggested that a deal is close to being reached particularly after the American challenger made a public plea to the UFC kingpin.
Jones has had a hugely successful career in the UFC which now sees him having won titles in two divisions including his dominant stint at 205lb. His absence from the cage saw many question if he still had the desire to compete at the top level but he completely outclassed tough opposition in Gane.
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The 35-year-old looked almost unbeatable at heavyweight and it would require a monumental performance from an ageing Miocic to take him off the throne. Negotiations are understood to be ongoing between both fighters and the UFC to get the fight over the line, with the pair having traded verbal barbs over a showdown for several months.
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Miocic has accused the champion of "running" from the fight on multiple occasions given news when silent on a potential fight in previous weeks. And UFC legend Daniel Cormier believes the heavyweight star may be looking to negotiate a big final payday before hanging up his gloves himself.
He said: “Someone told me that Jones has always been willing to sign those bout agreements. So when they said it was going to be September, they said Jones was ready. When it was going to be October, they said Jones was ready. December, Jones is ready. I heard that it’s always been an issue on the Miocic side in terms of the financial side of the equation.
“Stipe is about to be 41 years old, so this may be, if he can’t get the job done his final payday of that sort and I can see why he’s trying to ensure that he is getting what he feels is his fair value. Especially going into a very difficult fight for him.”