Stipe Miocic Down to Fight Anyone, Jon Jones Included

Stipe Miocic Down to Fight Anyone, Jon Jones Included

UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic rolls off a list of potential opponents he wouldn't mind seeing inside the Octagon.

Nov 1, 2016 by Jim Edwards
Stipe Miocic Down to Fight Anyone, Jon Jones Included

UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is a game fighter born and bred.

The proud Cleveland native entered the most prominent promotion in mixed martial arts as a highly touted prospect and parlayed his toughness and athleticism into a world title. Miocic battled his way up the ranks by taking each and every opportunity put in front of him, and the 34-year-old titleholder doesn't intend to abandon that approach anytime soon.

Fresh off the first successful defense of his heavyweight crown at UFC 203, Miocic is already eyeing a return to the Octagon. He knows there are a few high-profile tilts that still need to play out before his next opponent can be decided, but Miocic isn't one to get all too concerned with particular matchups. Simply put: Miocic loves to fight, and he's willing to throw hands with anyone the UFC decides to put in the cage with him.

Whether it's a rematch with Junior dos Santos or the winner of the upcoming bout between Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez, Miocic is more than happy to oblige all comers.

"I would love to get that loss off my record, get a W and beat the guy who beat me," Miocic told FloCombat in regard to another go with JDS. "Obviously, Cain and Werdum have their fight coming, up so whoever the UFC wants me to fight I'll fight. I matchup well with everyone. I have the best coach in the world, and I'm ready to go.

"I'm not great at picking fights. Cain looked great in his last fight...super tough and his usual self. Werdum is Werdum. He's one of the best, and he's beat the best. He has a win over Cain, so I think it comes down to whoever implements their game plan the best is going to win the fight."

And while there is a healthy list of potential opponents currently residing in the heavyweight division, there is another big name lingering in Jon Jones. The former light heavyweight king has hinted at a potential move up in weight for years, and a fight against Jones is something Miocic says he'd be excited for.

"Yeah, whoever the UFC wants I'll fight them," Miocic said in regard to Jones. "I feel I matchup very well with him. Like I said, it's want the UFC wants. You want me to fight Jon Jones, Cain, Werdum I don't really care. I'm not giving this belt up for a long time. I worked way too hard to give it up. My goal is to keep this belt for as long as I can and I'm going to keep it for a long time."