Jon Jones hit back hard at Stipe Miocic ahead of UFC 309 clash

Jon Jones has taken exception to a comment made by Stipe Miocic in the lead-up to their heavyweight title fight at UFC 309 in New York on Sunday (AEDT).

The pair had been largely respectful heading into their clash at Madison Square Garden, but Miocic’s words on the recent UFC Countdown program got under the reigning champion’s skin.

“Bring it on, bitch,” Miocic said at the end of a segment on the show.

“See the disrespect?” Jones replied in an X post on Monday.

“You calling me a bitch, Stipe.

“The disrespect didn’t have to happen.

“You’re going to wish you didn’t say that.”

“Hiring black fighters to mimic me will not help you, Stipe,” he continued in a later post.

“You shouldn’t have called me a bitch, the disrespect wasn’t necessary.

“Let’s play.”

Jones also took to social media to defend his choice of opponent, with the 37-year-old coming under fire for allegedly ducking a bout against interim champion Tom Aspinall.

“It’s wild how narratives seem to appear out of thin air,” he wrote on Monday.

“Stipe and I have been set to fight for ages, even before the interim title bout.

“Some of y’all just run with stories you wish were real.”

Jones and Miocic were due to fight in December 2023, but a pectoral injury suffered by the former caused the clash to be postponed.

“It’s an honour to be so desired,” Jones said in another post.

“I’m over here as one of the most successful fighters in MMA history listening to grade school insults.

“I’m going to miss this one day.”

The American also took the time to lash out at reigning light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev, who accused him of being scared of a fight against Aspinall.

“Magomed, jealousy won’t earn you legend status, my friend,” he said.

“Train harder, hate less.

“Want to truly insult me? Break some of my records first. Let’s get started.”

Jones is a -714.29 favourite at UFC bookmakers to defeat Miocic, with the former champion paying long odds of +500 for an upset.

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