Jon Jones UFC 295 fight cancellation felt like getting ‘kicked in the nuts’; wasn’t offered interim title

Stipe Miocic shares his disappointment over missing out on what could have been the biggest fight of his career.

The former UFC heavyweight champion, Stipe Miocic, expresses his frustration after his title bout with Jon Jones was canceled just weeks before the event. The highly anticipated fight between Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) and Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) was set to headline UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden in New York on November 11th, as part of the UFC’s 30th-anniversary celebration. Unfortunately, Jones suffered a torn pectoral muscle during training and is expected to be out of action for eight months.

This news came as a significant blow to Miocic, who stated, “How did I feel when I woke up today? Like I got kicked in the nuts,” on his OnlyFans account. He further explained, “I woke up to my phone vibrating in the morning. It was dark, and I had my son lying on top of me while I was trying to reach my phone. Finally, when I got my hands on it, my manager’s text message informed me that my fight was off.

“I couldn’t sleep for the rest of the night. I was supposed to fight Jon Jones in about two weeks, at UFC 295, Madison Square Garden in New York. I was really excited about that. Actually, I was really, really excited. But I guess he tore something in his chest. Unfortunately, these things happen. It’s part of the game. I hope he recovers and feels better, but what happens now? Do I fight someone else? I don’t know.”

Following the cancellation of his fight, the UFC arranged an interim title fight between Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall. Surprisingly, Miocic claims that he wasn’t offered the opportunity to compete for the interim belt and remain on the UFC 295 card, despite being prepared for the event.

“I don’t know why I wasn’t chosen, which is fine,” Miocic commented. “I understand that the UFC has a specific direction they want to go in. I’m okay with that. All the guys in the division are tough. Of course, I want to fight the best, which is Jon Jones.

“It wasn’t my decision; it was theirs. Listen, everything happens for a reason. It sucks that the fight got canceled, no doubt about it. Unfortunately, that’s just the nature of the sport we’re in. It happens. Like I said, I hope he’s okay. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. I want that belt back. It’s my belt. It’s going to happen.”

For more information about the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie