LAS VEGAS – Stipe Miocic is focused on one opponent – the one he’ll have in front of him at UFC 260.
Saturday, Miocic (20-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) headlines the pay-per-view event in a rematch against Francis Ngannou, whom he beat by unanimous decision at UFC 220 in 2018. Beyond that, his future opponents are anyone’s guess, according to the UFC heavyweight champion.
With former long-reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones recently joining the heavyweight division, Miocic could have a big fight on his hands if he gets through Ngannou (15-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC).
Miocic didn’t lobby for the matchup when given the chance at Thursday’s UFC 260 news conference, though. In his eyes, the matchmaking is the UFC’s call.
“If that was my decision, I wouldn’t be fighting. I’d be a matchmaker,” Miocic said. “It’s great Jon Jones is moving up, you know? There are new guys in the division. A lot of new guys are coming up. Right now, my focus is on Saturday. That’s all I care about. Once I take care of business on Saturday, then we’ll look into it.”
Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) hasn’t yet competed at heavyweight, though UFC president Dana White has said he’s likely next for the winner of Saturday’s main event. That said, if Ngannou beats Miocic at UFC 260, it would be tough for the UFC boss to not match him up with Miocic for a third time.
“It would be tough to say, ‘No, (Miocic) doesn’t deserve the rematch,” White said at the news conference. “Of course (he does). Yeah, I don’t know (what we’d do).”
UFC 260 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
Will Jon Jones get next heavyweight title shot after UFC 260? Stipe Miocic doesn’t care
