UFC: Jon Jones says he can beat heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic ‘for sure’ and would not need a tune-up fight

Jon Jones open to moving up to heavyweight after he defends his belt against Dominick Reyes this weekend

The light-heavyweight champion says he beats Miocic in terms of ‘speed, fight IQ, versatility and confidence’

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Jon Jones addresses the fans after knocking out Daniel Cormier during UFC 214 in 2017. Photo: AP

Published: 10:00pm, 5 Feb 2020Updated: 10:36pm, 5 Feb 2020

The UFC’s pound-for-pound number one fighter, Jon Jones, is certain he could beat heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic when he inevitably moves up divisions.

Jones (professional MMA record 25-1) – who is defending his light-heavyweight title against the undefeated Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 on Sunday – cited Miocic’s (19-3) two fights against former champion Daniel Cormier in 2018 and 2019 as telltale signs he would win.

“I feel like I really wanna fight Stipe Miocic. I feel like I could beat him,” American Jones said to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani. “I don’t think I would need a tune up. I’m pretty tuned up. I feel great and strong already, I think Stipe is what, 230 [pounds]? Me at a lean 230 is plenty, I could totally beat him just based on his performances with [Cormier].

“Our speed differences, my fight IQ, versatility, confidence. I think I’m the guy to beat him for sure. I want to strike while I’m hot,” he said.

The 37-year-old Croatian-American Miocic is recovering from an eye injury sustained from his title-winning fight against Cormier in August last year. He had not fought since losing the belt to Cormier more than a year before.

While it would make most sense to UFC matchmakers, Miocic’s manager has already tried to play down rumours of a trilogy, adding that Miocic is more interested in superfights or even crossovers into boxing against the likes of Tyson Fury.