With Tom Aspinall expected to serve as the official backup for the UFC 309 headliner, Stipe Miocic would hold no reservations to fighting the British favorite in November, according to former title challenger, Anthony Smith.
Miocic, a former undisputed heavyweight titleholder twice under the banner of the promotion, still retains the number eight rank in the official heavyweight pile — despite remaining sidelined since he suffered a thunderous knockout loss against Francis Ngannou back in 2021.
As for Rochester native, Jones, the current heavyweight kingpin and former two-time light heavyweight gold holder, is set to return to action in a rescheduled pairing with Stipe Miocic in November at UFC 309, having remained sidelined since he won vacant gold against Ciryl Gane back in March of last year.