Stipe has a better chance against Jon than people expect

[JKS]

He turned the contract down, not the jones fight

The Jones fight was part of the contract and the first on it, so he turned down the fight and contract. But yes, for the reasons that the UFC deal wasn't right for him. Can't blame the man.

 

[Tweak896]

Jones and Stipe have equal mileage on them. After seeing Stipe go to war with DC in a mostly point fighting standup, you should favor Jones. I don't remember the last guy Stipe finished on the feet.


Edit: dc 2019, but that was cumulative with mostly body shots. JDS in 2017 was more of a standing finish, that's 7 years ago.

 

[JKS]

Francis Ngannou - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Ngannou's contract with the UFC expired in December 2022 and the UFC released Ngannou in January 2023. Jones had his last UFC fight at LHW in February 2020. Jones had his first HW bout in March 2023 vs. Gane for the vacant UFC belt that Ngannou surrendered when his contract expired. Jones made little effort to get a HW bout for 3 years, but sure moved fast to get his first HW fight inked after Ngannou was out of the picture. I'm not saying that Jones would have lost to Ngannou, but I don't think Jones wanted the risk of being on the receiving end of a Ngannou upper cut which sent Overeem into an alternate universe. Cormier also never stepped up to fight Ngannou. So hats off to Stipe for signing on the dotted line twice to fight Ngannou.

Ngannou vs. Overeem

Once again, Ngannou was not out of the picture. He was negotiating a new contract up until Jan of 23. The issue was for all of 2022 both Jon and Francis were negotiating their deals, Francis was also injured. Jon signed his new deal in Dec of 22 and that is when the UFC made a big push to make the fight. How can Jon announce a comeback anytime earlier when he didn't have a new contract?? The moment Jon signed and was slated for UFC 285 the UFC reached out to Francis and made the official fight offer and put it in his contract. But the deal still wasn't fight for Francis so he turned it down.

So Jon didn't just sign when Francis was leaving, he signed before and they made the effort to make the fight.

BTW, I think Francis would have KO'd Jones.

 

[JKS]

That's a great point. I always overlook the fact that Jon Jones has had 1 fight in almost 5 years, and it was a softball fight against a guy that can't defend takedowns.

As much as I think this fight is a sham and that Jones should obviously be unifying the HW titles with Aspinall, I do hope if it goes forward that Stipe has a Randy Couture-esque moment fighting Jon Jones. That's more difficult to do with modern drug testing ... Randy wasn't exactly "Natural" back then if you know what I mean.

I am still down for the Stipe fight, I love these legacy fights. It's gonna be interesting how it goes. I really hope that Jon fights Tom afterwards too.

 

[sdpdude9]

There is little reason to be confident in Stipe. Hasn’t fought in 3 and a half years, hasn’t won in 4. Has only faced the same 2 opponents in the past 7 years and both KO’d him. And he’s 42 years old.

There’s some reason to question Jones as well but at least he hasn’t been getting KO’d and he walked through the only guy he fought recently.

 

[Final Say]

The Jones fight was part of the contract and the first on it, so he turned down the fight and contract. But yes, for the reasons that the UFC deal wasn't right for him. Can't blame the man.

Just feels slightly misleading because im sure he would’ve taken the ufc contract and jones fight if they matched the terms that one fc gave him. Can’t take a worse deal just to fight jones.

I mean the guy got smoked in boxing by AJ lol that’s arguably a less winnable fight imo

 

[Koya]

I agree. Beating Gane, even though he had the belt, isn't too impressive.

Gane didn't have the belt.

 

[Goutfather]

I do think people are, generally, sleeping on Miocic in this fight.

As you said we have seen Very little of Jones at HW. One 2min fight, quick choke, that's it .

Miocic COULD flatline Jones. People seem to be doubting him.

people sleep on stipe in every fight.

 

[JKS]

Just feels slightly misleading because im sure he would’ve taken the ufc contract and jones fight if they matched the terms that one fc gave him. Can’t take a worse deal just to fight jones.

I mean the guy got smoked in boxing by AJ lol that’s arguably a less winnable fight imo

The money he was happy with, but I think it was the terms of the deal. He had his pay outlined for Jones, but after there was no details for the other 2 fights on his contract for pay. He was concerned if he lost, his pay would go down big time. And I think the UFC didn't budge on the boxing as well, they wouldn't let him box. The PFL deal was just better, more freedom.

 

[Gamer2k4]

Stipe hits harder than anybody Jones has taken a punch from. Of course he has a chance.

Stipe by TKO.

You need to him Jones first - that's the problem. Santos hit plenty hard, as did Belfort, as did Rampage. But none of them could connect cleanly because of how solid Jones is defensively. Stipe may be an excellent boxer, but I don't think he'll be able to get into range against Jones either.

 

[Neck&Neck]

If Stipe KO’s Bones in his swan song fight, wood be amazing

I expect a lot,of “Jon watch your fingers!” From the ref, probably Herb

 

[The Legendary Scarface]

Rest, recover, and get old.

Hey do u watch the stalecracker on YouTube dawg?

 

[MMAcolyte]

Also worth noting the only time Stipe has lost has been from getting punched and KO'd. He more than likely won't have that worry against Jones unless his chin is shot to nothing.

TBH i have no idea how each will look. They don't fight enough.

Someone else has probably pointed out that Stipe lost a decision to Junior dos Santos.

 

[MMAcolyte]

And his mileage is lower than Jon's.

Stipe has been knocked the fuck out multiple times. TKO'd, dropped. His brain has more concussive miles than Jon's. He looked decrepit against Francis and that was years ago.

 

[gentel]

Stipe has been knocked the fuck out multiple times. TKO'd, dropped. His brain has more concussive miles than Jon's. He looked decrepit against Francis and that was years ago.

Ngannou outclassed him but tbf that version of Ngannou was the most dangerous any man has ever been

 

[Bend NvR Break]

Jones really only needs to take him down once tbf sir.
Everyone knows I hate Jones but his wrestling/BJJ is pretty damn good, as is his GNP.

If this was 5 years ago I would say Stipe would have a good chance, but its hard to see in these circumstances.

All that being said, I hope Stipe knocks his dick in the dirt lol.

I'm a Jon fan but a Stipe win is better for MMA and I hope he can shock the world

 

[ryun253]

Stipe better come w/ those body shots that rekt DC with

 

[michi972]

4-5 years ago I would favours Stipe. Today i don't see him performing well

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

Anything can happen at HW. It could just take one punch or kick to end it.

 

[KO Shotz]

If Stipe beats Jon he'll have the best resume of all time.