Michael Bisping 'cannot wait' for Jon Jones v Stipe Miocic in 'ridiculous' UFC 309 main card - 'Going to be phenomenal'
Published 17/09/2024 at 17:08 GMT+1
TNT Sports UFC expert Michael Bisping has said he "cannot wait" for a "phenomenal" main card at UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden, featuring the heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic as well as Michael Chandler's return to the octagon against Charles Oliveira. Bisping said he hopes the heavyweight bout will "stop the conversation" over who deserves the title.
'I cannot wait!' - Fight Week preview Jones v Miocic and Oliveira v Chandler
Video credit: TNT Sports
Michael Bisping "cannot wait" for a "phenomenal" UFC 309 card, stacked with not only a highly-anticipated fight between Stipe Miocic and UFC Heavyweight champion Jon Jones, but also a return to the octagon for Michael Chandler, who faces Charles Oliveira.
Jones is finally set to face Miocic for the heavyweight title in a clash originally slated for 2023, with the title-holder now prepared for a return to action after being forced out of action with a long-term pectoral issue.
Tom Aspinall, the interim UFC Heavyweight champion has been waiting on the sidelines, repeatedly calling out Jones for a title fight. The Englishman has been named as the back-up fighter for the event in Madison Square Gardens, and Bisping is hoping the main event will "stop the conversation" over who deserves the belt.
"The wait is finally over and that kind of relates to both fights," Bisping said on TNT Sports' Fight Week. "For the fans, we can all shut up now about this whole Jon Jones, Stipe Miocic, Tom Aspinall saga, because I don't know about you, I am over it.
"Please, for the love of God, can we stop the conversation? Jones is fighting Stipe, it's going to be phenomenal. I cannot wait for it.
"Jon Jones is the greatest of all time, maybe the pound for pound number one. I don't care, debate it in the comments. He's going up against the greatest heavyweight on paper in Stipe Miocic.
"We've been waiting for a long time, but it's finally here, and you can all finally shut up and enjoy the fight."
Aspinall spoke about the title situation on the "Believe You Me" podcast in August, saying he will "retire Jon Jones without even fighting him", and claiming the current title-holder does not want the fight to happen.
UFC CEO Dana White also addressed Aspinall's comments, saying Jones wants the bout, adding: "I believe that fight happens."
And Bisping is excited by the prospect of Aspinall being back-up fighter for the UFC 309 title showdown, but believes the saga will draw an end to interim titles being awarded.
"Heaven forbid, one of these men does not show up, does not get on the scale, gets sick, stubs his toe, whatever the case may be," Bisping said. "Tommy Aspinall is jumping in and then we can just stop this conversation once and for all.
"I don't think we'll ever see another interim title ever again. This is creating such a mess, drama, show, whatever you want to call it, but guess what, Madison Square Garden always delivers top to bottom this main card is ridiculous."
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- UFC 309: Dana White announces Jon Jones v Stipe Miocic showdown - ‘Two of the baddest dudes in the world’
- Michael Chandler hits back at 'unreliable' Conor McGregor, confirms Charles Oliveira rematch at UFC 309
Aspinall's desperation to prove himself against Jones has largely stemmed from the title-holder's repeated hints he may retire after fighting Miocic.
Jones returned to the UFC after a three-year hiatus to win the UFC Heavyweight title from Ciryl Gane in 2023, and is considered one of the sport's greats.
And TNT Sports UFC expert Nick Peet feels that with all the build-up to the title bout between Jones and Aspinall, Miocic could come out of left-field for a shock result.
Peet said: "He [Jones] is the greatest that's ever done it, so you do want him to be active, you do want him to keep fighting and who knows where we go from here.
"Listen, Tom's in town, Tom's no doubt going to continue his war of words to try and ensure that Jon sticks around long enough to take on the next generation. But first and foremost, he has to take on Stipe and, while Jon's been quite visual and active on social media, Tom has as well of course, tried to call for a fight - we've seen very little of Stipe Miocic.
"Wouldn't it just be like this sport of MMA for stipe to come in from stage left, no one has seen him coming, and suddenly land something absolutely insane.
"The fight has to happen for Jon Jones' legacy. I just hope personally this isn't the end of Jon Jones' fighting legacy."
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Jones v Miocic at UFC 309 will be 'phenomenal' - Bisping
Video credit: TNT Sports
Chandler is 'going to bring the fire' to oliveira
After more than two years on the sidelines, Chandler returns to the octagon to face Oliveira in a mouth-watering rematch of their UFC 262 Lightweight title fight in 2021.
It was expected that Chandler would make his return against Conor McGregor, but the 38-year-old laballed the Irishman unreliable, while confirming he would make his long-awaited return against Brazilian Oliveira.
And Bisping bigged up the rematch, labelling Oliveira "the most exciting fighter in all of the sport", and said Chandler will "bring the fire" as he looks for revenge after being subjected to a second-round TKO defeat at the hands of the Brazilian in 2021.
On the fight being penned into the UFC schedule, Bisping said: "Nobody saw that one coming.
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Chandler will 'bring the fire' against Oliveira at UFC 309 - Bisping
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Charles Oliveira is the most exciting fighter in all of sport. Yes, last time out he lost to Arman Tsarukyan, so what - big deal.
"The man still wants to come back, still wants to be the champion and he's got a shot against Michael Chandler.
"Remember, he's already beaten him before, beat him very soundly. Dropped him with the fist, choked him with the hands and now they get to have another dance in round two at Maidson Square Garden.
"Michael Chandler has been waiting on the sidelines like a good little boy, doing as he's told. He's been kettlebell swinging, doing shoulder presses, giving TED talks and motivational speeches anywhere you look but he hasn't been fighting.
"Finally he gets to come back, two years on the sidelines, that's a lot of earning potential, a lot of time left on the shelf.
"He's going to be angry, he's going to be annoyed and he's going to bring the fire. I cannot wait."
The stacked UFC 309 will be live on discovery+ from Madison Square Gardens on November 16.
Watch UFC cards on TNT Sports and discovery+
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