UFC superstar Jon Jones refused to shake the outstretched hand of Stipe Miocic as they squared off for the first time inside Madison Square Garden, declaring: “Respect is out the window”.
But still, the biggest snub of Thursday’s UFC 309 press conference?
UFC 309: JONES VS MIOCIC | Heavyweight champion and all-time great Jon Jones will defend his title against former champion Stipe Miocic | SUN 17 NOV 2PM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.
Well, you reckon that had to be felt by Jones himself.
Especially when considering how this greatest UFC fighter now – and, arguably, ever – was forced to sit on stage listening as countless New Yorkers chanted for that heavyweight rival not even present?
On the eve of his hyped UFC title fight against fellow American legend Miocic, Jones sat on stage inside the Garden on Thursday evening, rolling his eyes as the crowd cheered for hulking Great British adversary, Tom Aspinall.
“Tommy … Tommy … Tommy …” the mob started less than 10 minutes into proceedings.
A chant instigated when, only moments earlier, UFC president Dana White had been asked if the winner of Sunday’s fight should have to fight Aspinall next.
Which shouldn’t even be much of a question at all, right — what with Pommy Tom being the UFC heavyweight interim champ and all?
Yet only a day earlier, Jones had done the media rounds here in NYC declaring that he would not be defending against Aspinall in victory, but could instead face Alex Pereira, Francis Ngannou, or even headline White’s proposed push into boxing.
Forgot Aspinall, the GOAT declared.
With Jones explaining he would instead be cherry picking the superfights that most excited him.
And the interim champ isn’t it, apparently.
White, however, has other idea.
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Jones extends olive branch to Cormier | 01:12
“The winner should absolutely fight Tom,” he declared at the lectern inside MSG, as the New York crowd went slightly, err, bonkers.
Then, they started chanting.
“Tommy, Tommy, Tommy …”
At which point, White tried to keep things rolling, shouting: “Who’s got the next question”.
But still the crowd, they kept at it.
None of which impressed Jones.
“Knock it off,” the champ said into his microphone.
Asked later for a reaction to White’s statement, Jones shrugged: “I have no reaction.
“I’m focused on Saturday.
“That’s the biggest thing for me right now.”
So no thoughts?
“I did a really long press conference yesterday,” he said, referring to several chats that including suggesting he would likely reject Aspinall given the Englishman has “been such an a**hole, that I don’t want to do business with him”.
“He’s a real threat” Jones set on Stipe | 07:48
Elsewhere, Jones also left Miocic shaking his head at the end of proceedings when, during the face off, he refused to shake the outstretched hand of the Cleveland firefighter – who even took a New York fire helmet onto stage that had been gifted to him only moments earlier.
Asked early in the press conference why he had been so upset by some of the things Miocic has said about him during the build, Jones explained: “I feel like Stipe has this … everyone likes first responders.
“And I respect men and women who are in the armed forces, law enforcement, things like that.
“So I made it a point to be very respectful to him.
“But there’s been two scenarios now.
“The first one, he said ‘my kids will never look at me like I’m an a**hole’ – that was a direct attack at me and my family, my relationship with my kids.
“Second attack was him calling me a bitch.
“So the respect is a little bit out the window.
“And we’ll see that on Saturday.”
So the fight is personal then?
“Finally it’s here” Stipe glad to return | 04:08
“It’s very personal to me, yes,” he added.
But as for Miocic apologising for any offence, either real or imagined?
“I don’t remember saying that (quote) about the a**hole,” the challenger shrugged of the first claim.
“And when I said ‘bring it on b****’, he was calling me out and saying he was going to beat my ass in front of a whole arena of people.
“So sorry for defending myself, I apologise.”
Later, Jones was asked where a win over Miocic would rank.
At which point, the heavyweight champ instead decided to introduce the crowd to a young member of his entourage who, he explained, was battling cancer.
Right before asking if White might gift him some tickets to the event.
Unsurprisingly, the UFC chief executive said yes.
“He has the biggest and most beautiful smile,” Jones said of the youngster.
“I’m so grateful to have met him
“And I promise to give you a great show on Saturday night young man.
“And Dana just said he’s going to give you tickets …”
Then turning to the UFC boss, the champ continued: “Are you going to give him decent seats?”
To which, this time, White simply nodded.
“You won’t fight me, what do I do?!” | 01:42
“Oh, you’re going to get a good seat,” Jones grinned. “Uncle Dana knows how to take care of his guests.”
Then, it was back to that original question.
“I’ve beaten a lot of amazing athletes,” Jones said.
“And Stipe is an amazing athlete.
“Even though I don’t like I quite like him right now.
“But this is fighting so who cares if I like him or not?
“I have to respect what he’s done in the UFC.
“I’ve seen him use that right hand on some really great guys.
“So I’ve got nothing but respect for the dude.
“And that’s what makes it such a great fight.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Miocic shrugged off the long betting odds he continues to hold with bookies – “Vegas hates me,” he laughed – while White, once again, said he felt Jones was the greatest fighter on the planet.
At which point, Jones stood and played up to the crowd as they cheered.
“And,” he shouted, “I’ll prove it on Saturday too”.
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