Breaking: Dana White confirms winner of Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane will face Stipe Miocic next
Dana White, the UFC president, has confirmed that the winner of Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 this weekend will face Stipe Miocic next.
Miocic, a former heavyweight champion, is often regarded as the best heavyweight of all time. He holds the record for most UFC heavyweight title defenses (4), most consecutive heavyweight title defenses (3) and most performance bonuses in the division's history (9).
Miocic last competed at UFC 260, where he was defeated by Francis Ngannou via second-round KO.
White appeared in front of the media on Friday to confirm the next heavyweight title fight, and said this:
"Yeah, [Stipe] is absolutely the next [in line for a title shot]. Whoever wins on Saturday night, will face Stipe next."
Watch the interview below from 3:45:
Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane will go head-to-head for the vacant heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 285.
'Bones' has been out of action since February 2020 when he defeated Dominick Reyes at UFC 247. Jones vacated the light heavyweight title in August of the same year and announced he would be moving to heavyweight.
His long-awaited return is set to take place this weekend, with the three years that Jones spent bulking up resulting in him weighing in at 248 pounds yesterday, half a pound heavier than Gane.
Jon Jones is vying to become the latest two-division UFC champion and further cement his name in the annals of MMA.
Dana White states that Francis Ngannou will never be in the UFC again
Dana White appeared in front of the media ahead of Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 this weekend. The UFC president was asked if there was a chance that the promotion would re-sign former champion Francis Ngannou in the future.
White was frank in saying that the UFC and Ngannou would never be involved again, after what he described as "years of negotiations".
Francis Ngannou departed from the UFC in January following extensive negotiations with Dana White. According to 'The Predator', he requested fighter-representation during contract negotiations, health insurance for fighters and a three-fight deal that expired within a year that allowed Ngannou to venture into the world of boxing.
White denied any special inclusions in the former champion's contract. Ngannou was then stripped of the heavyweight title and allowed to explore free agency.
Dana White stated the following:
"No [Franics Ngannou will never be re-signed by the UFC]. We negotiated with him for years. It's over. He'll never be in the UFC again."
Watch the video below:
Dana White says Francis Ngannou will never be in the UFC again.
https://t.co/vfjpAaWVbt