Jon Jones has vowed to make Stipe Miocic pay inside the octagon following disrespectful comment.
The pair collide at UFC 309, and both men had remained amicable in the build-up to what many fans deemed a title clash between two legends.
However, as the time to enter the octagon edges ever closer, things are beginning to turn sour.
In a recent episode of UFC Countdown, Miocic did not mince his words when discussing his upcoming opponent, referring to the former light-heavyweight champion as a ‘b***h’.
Miocic’s comments struck a nerve with Jones as the heavyweight kingpin took to social media to respond with a chilling message.
“The disrespect didn’t have to happen,” he posted. “You’re gonna wish you didn’t say that.”
Jones, like others, often regarded Stipe as the ‘Greatest Heavyweight of all Time’ but that admiration has quickly dissipated following the former champion’s comments.
Jones, who is widely regarded as the ‘Greatest of all Time’, called for the matchup with the heavyweight great after claiming the title at UFC 285, submitting Cyril Gane in the first-round.
Miocic’s last outing saw him drop the heavyweight strap to Francis Ngannou in March 2021, having not competed since that stoppage loss, the former champion will have had over a three-year hiatus ahead of his main-event clash with Jones.
The pair were originally scheduled to fight in November 2023, but Jones was forced to withdraw after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in training.
‘Bones’ will also be able to deploy a new strike to his arsenal at UFC 309 following the previously banned ’12-6’ elbow now being a viable option to use.
He famously suffered his only loss through this method after he was disqualified for using the strike on Matt Hamill when the pair met in The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in 2009.
UFC 309 also sees an exhilarating rematch as Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler hope to replicate their impressive first encounter in a pivotal matchup in the lightweight division.
Oliveira gained the upper hand when the pair clashed at UFC 262, stopping the all-American inside two rounds to claim the lightweight title vacated by Khabib Nurmagomedov.
