As Stipe Miocic gears up for his highly anticipated matchup against Jon Jones at UFC 309, he remains unfazed by the wave of criticism surrounding the fight's booking. Critics argue that Miocic, who has been out of action for over three years, should not jump the queue ahead of interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. However, Miocic emphasizes that the decision wasn't his to make.

In an exclusive interview, Miocic stated, 'It wasn’t my choice. It’s a fight I wanted, and the UFC gave it to me. They didn’t have to. They gave it to me.' This fight was initially scheduled a year ago, but a torn pectoral muscle sidelined Jones, only adding to the drama leading up to this clash.

While Aspinall boasts an impressive 8-1 record with all victories achieved via knockout or submission, Miocic believes his fight against Jones carries more weight in the history of the sport. 'I believe so [there’s a reason why it’s happening],' Miocic remarked. 'A lot more people want to see this fight than Aspinall vs. me.' He acknowledged Aspinall’s talent but insists that his legacy as the greatest heavyweight in UFC history makes this meeting with Jones a must-watch event for fans.

Miocic has faced his fair share of challenges since his last fight in 2021, where he suffered a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou. The former champion had hoped for a trilogy bout with Ngannou, but that fight never materialized as Ngannou transitioned out of the UFC after sustaining a knee injury.

The spotlight now turns to Miocic’s bout with Jones, who has long coveted the chance to compete against him. Both fighters are aware of the stakes, with discussions of retirement swirling around their future. Jones has been vocal about his desire to retire after this fight, citing he has nothing left to prove. Miocic, on the other hand, is less vocal, preferring to keep his thoughts on retirement private.

Addressing these rumors surrounding his potential retirement, Miocic stated, 'I think every fight, I’m always preparing for my last one. Who wants to get beat up for 10 weeks, 12 weeks, come back and do it again? I love what I do and it’s fun. But right now, my task at hand is Jon. That’s all I care about.'

The stakes could not be higher for Miocic, who views a victory over Jones as a fitting climax to his storied career. 'When I do beat him, it’s going to be great,' he declared, firmly setting his sights on both victory and leaving a lasting mark on the sport.

As UFC 309 approaches, fans are left wondering whether Miocic can defy the odds and secure a legendary status over one of the greatest fighters in MMA history. The fight promises not just a confrontation of skill, but a battle of legacies in the octagon.