Former champion Stipe Miocic set for winner of Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane at UFC 285

Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic says the promotion has told him he will fight the winner of Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane this summer.

The two-time champion, considered by many as the greatest heavyweight in UFC history, has not fought since losing the belt to Francis Ngannou in March 2021.

However, Miocic said on Friday that he has been guaranteed the winner of Sunday’s headline bout at UFC 285, which pits against one another the returning Jones and former interim champion Gane.

Jones, the former long-time champion at light heavyweight, is competing for the first time in more than three years – and makes his debut at heavyweight.

In an interview with former rival Daniel Cormier, Miocic said the UFC told him he will be back in the octagon in July, in another bout for the title.

“They said International Fight Week [July 3-9],” the American said. “That’s what I was told.”

Speaking at a later press conference in Las Vegas to preview Sunday’s event, Miocic reiterated: “I was told that, so we’ll see. Hopefully … nothing is permanent until it’s written a contract with a signature, but we’ll see.”

Stipe Miocic celebrates after his victory over Daniel Cormier during UFC 252 in Las Vegas. Photo: Zuffa LLC

The UFC have yet to confirm any fights for what is expected to be UFC 290 during International Fight Week in Vegas. Miocic, 20-4 in professional MMA (14-4 UFC), had been hoping to provide Jones with his first test at heavyweight before that.

“I was down for the fight; I just think they went in a different direction every time," Miocic said. "Nothing against the UFC, they’re just trying to make the fights, I get it, and unfortunately it just wasn’t my time again.

“There was only one time I just couldn’t fight because