• Stipe Miocic has issued a challenge to the winner of Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane.
• Jones will fight Gane for the vacant UFC heavyweight title on March 4.
• Miocic hasn’t fought since losing to Francis Ngannou in March 2021.

Stipe Miocic, a former heavyweight champion of the UFC, has issued a challenge to the winner of the next title contest between Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane.

Jones has been preparing to move up to heavyweight for almost three years, and on March 4, he will finally have a fight booked when he challenges Gane for the vacant title at UFC 285.

The announcement comes after Francis Ngannou decided to resign from the promotion following nearly two years of negotiations that failed to produce a new agreement.

The UFC has not seen Miocic compete since his knockout loss to Ngannou in March 2021, when he was in talks to fight Jones.

Despite turning 41 later this year, the former champion seemed eager to return in the summer.

“March 4th – I like it. I got winner in July,” he tweeted.

March 4th – I like it.

I got winner in July.

— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocic) January 15, 2023

Dana White, the president of the UFC, confirmed that Miocic is still in the running for the heavyweight championship while announcing the bout between Jones and Gane this Saturday.

“Stipe is still obviously very much in the mix but he’s going through some stuff, the timing just didn’t work out,” White said.

For two and a half years, Miocic held the heavyweight belt before losing it against Daniel Cormier, reclaiming it, and defending it in their trilogy fight.

In order to begin his third reign as heavyweight champion, Miocic must face the victor of Jones vs. Gane, a feat only accomplished by UFC legend Randy Couture.

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