Stipe Miocic has spoken about a potential trilogy fight with his former rival Francis Ngannou ahead of UFC 309.
42-year-old Miocic challenges Jon Jones in the main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, on November 17.
The card also has Michael Chandler facing Charles Oliveira in a five-round lightweight co-main event, while hot prospect Bo Nickal takes on Scotland’s Paul Craig in the middleweight division.
Miocic made his UFC debut in October 2011 at UFC 136 and claimed heavyweight gold for the first time by knocking out Fabricio Werdum five years later.
He defended the belt in his next three fights, which included a unanimous-decision victory over Ngannou in January 2018, before dropping it to UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier.
Following a trilogy of bouts with Cormier when Miocic regained his heavyweight belt, the Ohio native met Ngannou again in what was his last octagon appearance to date.
“Yeah, I’m OK with letting go, I get it,” Miocic said, speaking to MMA Fighting about the unlikely scenario of a trilogy bout with Ngannou.
“As much as I would love to fight him, I wish him nothing but the best. It is what it is. We’re 1-1 and that’s the way it will be. He got the last one, unfortunately.”
Miocic and Ngannou went head-to-head for the UFC heavyweight title for the first time at UFC 220 six years ago.
Numerous MMA fans claimed the former taught the Cameroonian a lesson in fighting after the pair went at it for five tough rounds.
Miocic looked the more effective between the pair over the 25-minute bout and was deservedly awarded the victory.
Both men then clashed again at UFC 260 in March 2021, which was the last time Miocic fought an MMA bout.
Ngannou had since gone away and improved weak aspects of his game, like wrestling and cardio, and this time the script looked very different.
He looked by far the sharper and more energised fighter from the very beginning of the fight.
And after catching him with a rapid one-two combination, he finished the fight with a left hand that stunned the American and knocked him out cold.
Tom Aspinall is the official backup fighter for Jones vs Miocic on November 17 as the current interim heavyweight champion.
He has stated that Miocic can knock Jones out as the former has ‘big knockout power’ compared to the current UFC heavyweight champion.
Many, if not all UFC fans, want to see the Brit face Jones in a heavyweight clash to unify the division.
But rumours have circulated that ‘Bones’, as well as Miocic, will retire after their New York City fight.
