Chael Sonnen believes Stipe Miocic will ride off into the sunset without any ballyhoo - "It's going to look like today looks"

Stipe Miocic wasn't one for much pomp and show even during his reign as the UFC heavyweight champion. According to Chael Sonnen, Miocic will be no different in his retirement and will choose to walk away quietly.

While Miocic's potential return to the octagon opposite Jon Jones remains doubtful, Sonnen isn't ruling out the idea of the former heavyweight champ competing again.

However, Sonnen believes that when Miocic does hang up his gloves for good, he might not tell us immediately. 'The American Gangster' said on his YouTube channel:

"But I also think that Stipe's pending retirement, which of course, every day gets closer and closer, sure it does. I think that when Stipe does retire, when he does walk away, it's going to look like today looks. Which is, we're not gonna be told. He's going to be a top guy. He's going to be revered. He's gonna have a beautiful ranking. He's going to be of main-event quality, of world-title quality. And he's just not gonna hand us the information."

Watch Sonnen's comments on Stipe Miocic below (6:20):

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Sonnen compared Miocic's potential retirement to that of former UFC lightweight champ Sean Sherk. Sherk announced his retirement in 2013, three years after he last competed.

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Ariel Helwani believes Stipe Miocic's career might be over

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Ariel Helwani initially floated the idea that we may already have seen the last of Stipe Miocic inside the octagon. Helwani's comments come after a matchup between Miocic and Jon Jones, targeted for UFC 282 in December, has now seemingly been jeopardized.

While Jones is reportedly in on fighting Miocic in December, the former heavyweight champ has remained silent so far. With the matchup far from being done, the UFC is reportedly plotting Jones's return against Francis Ngannou in March 2023.

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Ariel Helwani

@arielhelwani

UFC has been in dialogue with Jon Jones’ team about fighting in the main event on Dec. 10, sources say. I’m told Jones wants in.

Initial hope was Ngannou x Jones but given Ngannou’s knee recovery + contract status = a long shot. Option 2 is Miocic. But that’s not close to done.

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UFC has been in dialogue with Jon Jones’ team about fighting in the main event on Dec. 10, sources say. I’m told Jones wants in.

Initial hope was Ngannou x Jones but given Ngannou’s knee recovery + contract status = a long shot. Option 2 is Miocic. But that’s not close to done.

Ariel Helwani

@arielhelwani

If they can get Jones x Miocic done, that’ll be the UFC 282 main. If not, the main will be Prochazka x Teixeira 2.

And if they can’t get Jones x Miocic done for 12/10, they’ll set their sights on doing Ngannou x Jones in March, if Ngannou re-signs. Developing.

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If they can get Jones x Miocic done, that’ll be the UFC 282 main. If not, the main will be Prochazka x Teixeira 2.

And if they can’t get Jones x Miocic done for 12/10, they’ll set their sights on doing Ngannou x Jones in March, if Ngannou re-signs. Developing.

With the UFC targeting Jones vs. Ngannou, Helwani believes Miocic might be at the end of his career. The Canadian journalist said during a Q&A session on The MMA Hour:

"I think they’re gonna turn their attention to March [and] Ngannou. And I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if this marks the end of Stipe’s career. Stipe’s going to go off into the night very quietly."

Watch Helwani's comments below (20:12):

Stipe Miocic hasn't competed since losing his strap to Ngannou in March 2021. The Ohio native leads a quiet, dethached life and is currently working as a full-time firefighter.

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