5 reasons Stipe Miocic might be a tougher matchup for Jon Jones than expected

Stipe Miocic hasn't set foot inside the octagon since suffering a devastating knockout loss to Francis Ngannou two years ago. The part-time firefighter has never been the most active fighter given that he has averaged one fight per year since 2019.

Since losing his heavyweight throne, the former champion has had to watch it come into the ownership of Jon Jones. At UFC 285, 'Bones' captured the heavyweight crown after making easy work of Ciryl Gane within two minutes of the first round. During his post-fight interview, he issued a public challenge to Miocic.

Thus, it's likely that Jon Jones will face Stipe Miocic in his next bout. While a date is yet to be announced, expectations are high for 'Bones'. Many expect him to run through the former heavyweight champion. He is very likely to win, but this list explores five reasons why the bout won't be as easy as many expect.

#5. Stipe Miocic's boxing

Despite the tremendous success he's enjoyed due to his wrestling skills, Stipe Miocic is a credentialed boxer. He is a former Golden Globes world champion, and this bodes well for him in a possible bout with Jon Jones. The former 205'er has made a career out of using push-kicks and oblique-kicks against advancing foes.

It has worked to great effect. Every time his opponents extend their stance to land jabs, Jones intercepts their lead leg with a kick that hyperextends their knee. This keeps opponents from entering range and it damages their lead leg enough that they can't put any weight on it, ultimately undercutting their punching power.

Four years ago today, Stipe Miocic knocked out Fabricio Werdum to win the heavyweight title at UFC 198.

#UFC
https://t.co/H84i7g8oYr

While this works against short opponents, 'Bones' has always struggled to implement this approach against opponents who match his height. Alexander Gustafsson and Dominick Reyes were both tall enough to still land their punches even after 'Bones' used his kicks.

Furthermore, his post-and-retreat form of defense only works against short opponents. Stipe Miocic is just as tall as he is and has an 80-inch reach. Even if 'Bones' leans away with his arms extended, Miocic's punches will connect. He is a much better boxer than Jones, and the fight could reveal that.

#4. Stipe Miocic's wrestling

Jon Jones is well-known for being capable of wrestling opponents with superior credentials while simultaneously being virtually impossible to wrestle. Former Olympic freestyle wrestler Daniel Cormier wasn't able to outwrestle him, nor was Ryan Bader when the pair squared off years ago.

But much of Jon Jones' success as a wrestler depends on being tall and long. While his opponents spread their legs wide to defend takedowns, Jones' arms are long enough that he can still hook his hands behind their legs to finish takedowns. This renders him capable of taking down better wrestlers.

✅ Head movement
✅ Takedowns
✅ Counter-punching

In his first fight against Ngannou, Stipe Miocic laid the foundations in the very first round.

His elite boxing and wrestling pedigree were there for all to see!

#UFC260 | Saturday | BT Sport 2 HD https://t.co/M8hqZ7DBIz

This is also why he's difficult to take down. The length of his legs means that whenever he spreads them wide, his foes can't hook their hands behind him. Unfortunately, this means that 'Bones' usually struggles to secure takedowns against opponents who match his size if there's no large skill-gap.

Ciryl Gane was an unskilled wrestler who conceded takedowns against Francis Ngannou. More seasoned wrestlers like Dominick Reyes effortlessly thwarted Jon Jones' takedowns due to their similar size. Stipe Miocic, an NCAA Division I wrestler who is Jones' size, will be far more difficult to wrestle.

#3. Stipe Miocic's cardio

Cardio is a maker of kings in the heavyweight division. Years ago, Cain Velasquez used his phenomenal cardio to carve out a legacy as one of the greatest 265'ers in MMA history. Other than the AKA standout, no other UFC heavyweight comes close to the cardio that Stipe Miocic possesses.

STIPE TAKES DOWN CORMIER

Stipe Miocic defeats Daniel Cormier to retain the UFC Heavyweight Championship in what might be the final match of Cormier's career

#UFC252 https://t.co/V8sPtczMEa

While Jon Jones has always had fantastic cardio, his gas tank at 265 lbs is an unknown variable. His only heavyweight fight thus far lasted two minutes. Even fighters with great cardio can struggle after gaining weight to transition into a heavier weight class.

This was the case with Georges St-Pierre at UFC 217 before he defeated Michael Bisping for middleweight supremacy. Jon Jones has won countless fights by being able to outlast his opponents. He won't be able to do so against a tireless fighter like Stipe Miocic.

#2. Jon Jones lacks knockout power

Jon Jones has TKO'd several people in the past. However, the former 205 lbs kingpin doesn't have brutal knockout power, which is why he hasn't knocked anyone unconscious with one blow. His TKO wins typically come after several unanswered shots against a grounded opponent.

Jan20.2018

4 years ago today,

Stipe Miocic ended Francis NGannou’s winning streak. https://t.co/ViOgKfVlS5

His punching mechanics aren't optimized for knockouts due to his striking style treating punches as setups for kicks. Stipe Miocic has only ever lost four times in his career. Three of those four losses were due to knockouts that Jon Jones won't be able to replicate.

Miocic is a tremendously durable fighter who is difficult to dismantle over five rounds. Without a nuclear option, Jones will have to be ready for a tireless opponent who will keep coming forward until the fight ends.

#1. Stipe Miocic's championship experience

While fans still dispute the nature of Jon Jones' win against Dominick Reyes, everyone is in agreement that he unequivocally won rounds three and four. Jones has ample experience in the championship rounds and knows how to pace himself according to a five-round fight.

Francis Ngannou is widely considered the most terrifying man in this sport.

Stipe Miocic shut him down for 5 rounds.

#UFC252 https://t.co/sX7KtZTJnH

Most of the opponents he has faced in recent memory lack this experience, so they don't know how to pace themselves. They either exhaust themselves too early or wait too long to get themselves into the fight. Stipe Miocic doesn't have this problem.

He has fought past the third round five separate times in his UFC career thus far. He knows how to pace himself and reliably win rounds to seal wins. While he's unlikely to emerge victorious against Jones, he will be a tougher foe than most expect him to be.