Stipe Miocic offers sincere apology to Jon Jones for "b*tch" comment: "It was just the heat of the moment"
Jon Jones seemed to take issue with some recent comments Stipe Miocic made about him with the latter clearing the air on the matter recently. The former UFC heavyweight champion was recently on The Ariel Helwani Show speaking with the titular figure ahead of Miocic's attempt to become a three-time titleholder in that division.
Miocic collides with Jones at UFC 309 for the latter's heavyweight crown inside Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. Helwani referenced a quip from Stipe Miocic that he believed was in the countdown show before this pay-per-view bout where Miocic said something to the effect of "let's go b*tch".
This drew a negative reaction from Jones who responded to it on social media by telling Miocic that he felt the disrespect was not necessary. When addressing Jones' response to this situation, Miocic said:
"Oh yeah. He was just talking to me and I was talking to him. Bring it on. I don't know. I didn't try to hurt his feelings. I mean, I was just fired up... I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to disrespect him in any way. It was just the moment, the heat of the moment. I mean, sorry. I don't know."
Check out Stipe Miocic's retort to Jon Jones' recent fight week comments below
Jon Jones and the historical connotations of UFC 309 for him
It was mentioned earlier that Stipe Miocic has a chance to become a three-time heavyweight champ which would tie Randy Couture's record for most UFC heavyweight title reigns. Jon Jones also has the chance to etch his legacy deeper into the MMA history books in his own right this weekend.
The reigning heavyweight champion is firmly established as the greatest light heavyweight champion the sport has ever seen. Jones is presented with a unique opportunity to be one of only a select amount of dual-division titleholders in the UFC to defend both of their belts.
To be a champ champ in the UFC is rare enough in and of itself but to have successfully defended both belts is to exist in even more rarefied air. 'Bones' has a unique chance to put himself on the level of Henry Cejudo, Amanda Nunes, and Daniel Cormier who each defended both the belts they won inside the octagon.
The Rochester native is quite mindful of his legacy and it wouldn't be a surprise if Jones was aware of the historical importance this fight has for him beyond getting a win over the consensus greatest heavyweight in UFC history.