Dana White says 'legacy fight' between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic will go ahead in 2024 - 'This needs to happen'

UFC president Dana White says the “legacy fight” between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic will happen next year.

Jones, the heavyweight champion, was scheduled to face Miocic at UFC 295 on November 11 but was forced to pull out after suffering a pectoral injury in training that requires surgery.

With the American sidelined until 2024, Britain’s Tom Aspinall will take on Sergei Pavlovich for the interim heavyweight belt in what is now the UFC 295 co-main event at Madison Square Garden.

When White announced that Jones was out, there was no mention of Miocic, who had also been removed from the card.

A veteran of the sport and the best heavyweight in UFC history, White has now confirmed Miocic only has eyes for Jones and that it would have been a sign of “complete disrespect” to ask him to fight for an interim title.

“This fight [Jones v Miocic] was set up, this fight needs to happen,” White said. “Two of the biggest legends of the sport want the fight.

“Stipe's not fighting for an interim title. Jones said: 'I want to fight Stipe'. I said: 'You're fighting Stipe.'

“You have the greatest heavyweight of all time versus the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.

“This is a legacy fight for both of those guys. To even call Stipe and ask him to fight for an interim title is complete disrespect.”

White added that he hopes whoever prevails in the heavyweight showdown between Jones and Miocic defends the undisputed title against the winner of Aspinall v Pavlovich.

“To be the man you've got to beat the man,” White said. “So whoever wins that fight, it would be nice to see them stick around to defend the title.”

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