How long has it been since [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] last competed in the octagon? It’s been so long that the former UFC heavyweight champion’s resume doesn’t include a fight – yet alone a win – against a currently active UFC fighter.
And yet, despite being out of action for a little more than three-and-a-half years, Miocic is stepping right back into a title shot Saturday at UFC 309 (ESPN+ pay-per-view), where he’ll challenge champ Jon Jones in the night’s headliner from Madison Square Garden in New York.
Miocic’s long layoff and his age no doubt are big reasons why Jones is a 6-to-1 betting favorite. Miocic, who was born on August 19, 1982, is 42 years old.
Miocic’s UFC title run
Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) holds the UFC record for most consecutive heavyweight title defenses at three, a streak that took place from September 2016 to January 2018 with wins over Alistair Overeem, Junior Dos Santos and Francis Ngannou.
After that run, Miocic fought Daniel Cormier three times in a row between July 2018 and August 2020, first losing the belt to Cormier before reclaiming it and winning the next two bouts to close their trilogy.
The last time Miocic competed in the octagon was on March 27, 2021, when he was viciously knocked out in a rematch with Ngannou to lose his title at UFC 260.
All these years later, Miocic has a chance to reclaim it against Jones – this time just a little bit older.
Jones vs. Miocic preview video
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.