UFC Corridor of Famer Daniel Cormier pinpointed a window of alternative for Jon Jones to doubtlessly knock out Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.
Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic will conflict in arguably the largest struggle in UFC heavyweight historical past on Saturday at UFC 309. Jones will make his long-awaited first heavyweight title protection after profitable the then-vacant belt final yr.
Jones and Miocic have confirmed to be extraordinarily sturdy throughout their legendary careers. The present UFC heavyweight champ has by no means misplaced by knockout or submission in his profession, and Miocic has solely been knocked out 3 times in 24 profession fights.
Cormier, earlier than coming into the UFC Corridor of Fame in 2022, spent a number of cage time with Jones and Miocic. He and Jones had probably the most heated rivalries in fight sports activities historical past, and he fought 3 times in opposition to Miocic.
After serving Miocic considered one of his lone knockout losses at UFC 226, Cormier believes Jones could make lightning strike twice at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Daniel Cormier reveals potential opening for Jon Jones to knock out Stipe Miocic
In a current breakdown on ESPN, Cormier defined a gap he and his staff noticed throughout his Miocic trilogy that Jones might exploit.
“As we have been preparing for the Stipe Miocic struggle, and once we have been breaking him down, we noticed some issues in his sport that we knew we might reap the benefits of. It was within the clinch,” Cormier mentioned. “I used to be discovering a number of success touchdown punches each time he would exit.
“As a result of when he exits, he tends to maintain his left hand low, and he allowed the clinch positions to play out as they went. Later within the collection, Stipe [Miocic] took the initiative in these sequences…
“You wrap that punch round that low straight arm, and should you land it with sufficient impression, [the knockout] is what you get. Whereas Jones won’t land a punch that may damage him in that approach, there are totally different weapons he can use. Elbows, spinning again elbows, all these artistic weapons that may very well be an issue.”
Cormier was a sufferer of Jones’ arsenal twice in his UFC profession. Jones earned a knockout win over Cormier at UFC 214 earlier than the struggle was overturned to a no-contest attributable to Jones testing optimistic for a banned substance.
Jones received the then-vacant UFC heavyweight title, after the promotion stripped Francis Ngannou, by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. He and Miocic have been scheduled to headline UFC 295 final yr earlier than Jones withdrew attributable to harm.
One yr later, Jones and Miocic are days away from clashing in one of many greatest fights in UFC historical past. The winner might doubtlessly stroll away from fight sports activities without end, as a substitute of taking over interim titleholder Tom Aspinall.
Miocic returns to the Octagon greater than three years after losing to Ngannou by knockout at UFC 260. Earlier than the defeat, he received back-to-back fights over Cormier to finish their heavyweight trilogy.
Tensions have additionally ramped up forward of struggle evening. After Miocic referred to as Jones an X-rated slur throughout the UFC 309: Countdown, Jones issued a fiery response, to which Miocic has since apologized.
Based on Cormier’s evaluation, Jones might knock out Miocic if he lures the previous titleholder into the clinch. If that occurs, we may very well be in for an additional spotlight reel end.
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