A week after UFC 309, the promotion chose to pause this morning's broadcast of UFC Fight Night: Yan vs Figueiredo to share a final farewell message with the consensus greatest heavyweight champion.
It's a shame the career highlights video aired at UFC Macau and not the huge PPV event last weekend; although fans were grateful that the promotion finally shared a fitting farewell for a truly legendary athlete.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
UFC Macau broadcast interrupted by emotional farewell to Stipe Miocic
During this morning's broadcast of UFC Macau, the promotion chose to interrupt the show with a final farewell message to the legendary former champion and future Hall of Famer.
Stipe Miocic leaves the sport not only as the greatest heavyweight champion in the promotion's history, but also as one of the most beloved fighters to ever enter the octagon.
The farewell video comes a week after Miocic was viciously knocked out by Jon 'Bones' Jones in the main event of UFC 309 thanks to a perfect spinning back kick to the body.
While fans are happy that Miocic was able to get his own recap video, many of the comments and replies are extremely critical of the UFC for not having the package ready last weekend.
Great to see Stipe Miocic getting the respect he deserves, but it definitely would have been better to do it last week when he was in the octagon #UFCMacau
— GingaNinja (@loveascrap) November 23, 2024
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UFC giving Stipe Miocic a 7am tribute in China just doesn't feel right for the legend.
— Tanner Bruttomesso (@TannerBESPN) November 23, 2024
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Stipe Miocic gets his well-deserved farewell after his retirement last weekend. Glad to see the UFC gave it to him, but I still think it should have been at MSG #UFCMacau
— Patrick Danna (@patdannamma) November 23, 2024
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Stipe Miocic shares heartfelt farewell message as he confirms his retirement
A few days after his third-round KO loss to Jones, Miocic wrote a heartfelt message to both his family and fans, confirming that he is hanging up the gloves for good.
“Let me start this post by saying that I am doing well. Experienced much worse. I hope everyone enjoyed the show on Saturday,” he declared, before acknowledging that his clash with Jones was “an incredible exit!
“I started this journey fighting at local bowling alleys and ended it at a sold out Madison Square Garden. It really can't get any better than that… Sorry I don't understand the W, but you can't get them all. Sometimes it's not your evening, that's the nature of the beast.
“You can't plan a perfect ending in this sport, but I think the perfect ending is that you were lucky enough to do it at all.”
Miocic would like to thank his friends, family members and global fanbase for their support through thick and thin; with a brief word for his extensive list of former opponents: “To my opponents, thank you all. I have learned something from each of you. It was an honor to go to war brothers.”
“And finally, to the fans: you are the heartbeat of this sport. You are what makes MMA great! Without you, we fighters don't even exist. The rush you gave me as I walked to that octagon is forever etched in my memory! Thank you for that.”
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