Last Saturday night, Stipe Miocic made his controversial return to the UFC Octagon at UFC 309, where he took on Jon Jones for the undisputed heavyweight title.
Despite being inactive for the past three years, the UFC immediately awarded Stipe Miocic a title fight upon his return, causing an uproar among the UFC fanbase.
However, the 42-year-old's inactivity became extremely apparent early in the UFC 309 main event against Jon Jones, with the commentary team constantly pointing out how slow the former champion looked.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Francis Ngannou sends a heartfelt message to Stipe Miocic following his retirement
Although the consensus before the event was that Miocic would retire regardless of the result, he reaffirmed his plan after his disappointing third-round loss and announced his retirement.
Miocic will go down in history as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time and still holds the record for most consecutive title defenses in the division, with three.
One of these was in 2018 against Francis Ngannou, when he dominated 'The Predator' and won by unanimous decision.
The two squared off again in 2021 in what will go down as one of the greatest rivalries in UFC heavyweight history. Ngannou scored a huge KO, leveling their rivalry at 1-1, but following his win he abruptly left the promotion.
In response to the 42-year-old's retirement, Ngannou sent Miocic a heartfelt message, thanking him for the rivalry they shared inside the cage.
“Thank you, champion, for everything you have done for our sport and especially for the class you embody and the example you set. I am grateful for the way our fights have shaped me into a better fighter; Those moments taught me more than years in the sport,” Ngannou said.
“Enjoy your well-deserved retirement and best wishes for all your future endeavors,” the former champion continued.
Thank you, champion @stipemiocic, for everything you have done for our sport and especially for the class you embody and the example you have set. I am grateful for the way our fights have shaped me into a better fighter; those moments have taught me more than years in the sport. Enjoy your… pic.twitter.com/QAzR4uX94Y
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) November 17, 2024
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Francis Ngannou sends a message to Jon Jones after his UFC 309 win
Since leaving the UFC in 2022, Ngannou has faced constant criticism from UFC CEO Dana White, with the boss claiming that 'The Predator' walked away from a potential fight against 'Bones'.
The two have continually gone back and forth in interviews, with Ngannou claiming it was Jones' fault that the fight never happened.
Given Jones' recent attitude towards a potential title fight against Tom Aspinall, MMA fans are starting to side with Ngannou.
Although he is no longer part of the UFC heavyweight roster, Ngannou kept a close eye on the UFC 309 main event and sent the champion a short but poignant message following his victory.
“Jones looked great tonight. Congratulations Jonny boy. I'll see you,” Ngannou said on X.
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