As Jon Jones prepares to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 this Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York, tensions are escalating between the two fighters.

During a recent segment of UFC Countdown, Miocic unleashed a fiery challenge, saying, “Bring it on, b*tch,” which didn’t sit well with Jones.

Taking to social media, Jones vented his frustration on his Instagram Story and Twitter. He responded, “Hiring black fighters to mimic me will not help you, Stipe. And you shouldn’t have called me a b*tch; the disrespect wasn’t necessary. Let’s play.” This exchange marks a shift in what had been mostly respectful interactions leading up to the highly anticipated fight.

Jones, known for his formidable talent and record, has a deep respect for Miocic, who holds the record for the most successful defenses of the UFC heavyweight title with four.

Their initial match was scheduled for UFC 295 in December 2023, but an unfortunate pectoral injury sidelined Jones, delaying their clash.

In Jones' absence, Tom Aspinall emerged as a strong contender, capturing the interim heavyweight title with a victory over Sergei Pavlovich and successfully defending it against Curtis Blaydes earlier this July.

Aspinall has made it clear that he’s eager to unify the titles, yet Jones has diverted all his focus towards Miocic, disregarding Aspinall’s claims as the top contender.

This has triggered a wave of criticism toward Jones from the MMA community, with accusations of “ducking” Aspinall gaining traction.

Following Miocic's barb, Jones continued to respond to detractors, including top light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev, who mocked him for bypassing the interim champion.

“Magomed, jealousy won’t earn you legend status, my friend. Train harder, hate less. Want to truly insult me? Break some of my records first. Let’s get started,” Jones tweeted.

Ankalaev didn't hold back, firing back with a jab at Jones' history of drug test failures that marred his illustrious career.

Jones, who reigned as the light heavyweight champion from 2011 to 2020, amassed a legacy filled with historic victories against former champions.

However, his reputation has been scrutinized due to previous doping violations, including one that overturned a championship win over Daniel Cormier.

As fight week unfolds, the drama between Jones and Miocic adds a thrilling layer to UFC 309, with fans eagerly awaiting how this rivalry will ignite inside the Octagon.

Will Jones maintain his legacy as one of the greatest, or will the seasoned Miocic reclaim the heavyweight throne? Only time will tell!