Stipe Miocic announces retirement after UFC 309 loss to Jon Jones: ‘I’m done’

Stipe Miocic is strolling away from the octagon.

In the primary occasion of UFC 309, Miocic misplaced a one-sided struggle to heavyweight champion Jon Jones in a failed bid to assert that title for a 3rd time. The 42-year-old veteran was almost completed by Jones’ ground-and-pound and Spherical 1, however made it to the third spherical the place Jones put him away with a stunning spin kick to the body.

After the struggle, UFC commentator Joe Rogan spoke to Miocic and requested him what could be subsequent for him. Miocic answered, in no unsure phrases, that he was retiring.

“I’m completed,” Miocic stated. “I’m hanging them up. I’m retiring. Thank God.”

Watch Miocic’s post-fight interview under.

The announcement was unsurprising given Miocic’s inactivity lately. Miocic’s most up-to-date struggle earlier than UFC 309 befell in March 2021 and his most up-to-date win was in August 2020, over 4 years in the past.

Miocic instructed Rogan that they’d truly ready for the maneuver that ended the struggle, however that he didn’t execute within the second.

“It sucked, I misplaced,” Miocic stated. “He’s actually robust. I knew he was actually good, he’s among the best of all time. He got here robust, exhausting kicks, I felt good. That spinning kick we labored on, I simply mis-blocked it and it caught me within the ribs.”

Miocic (20-5) retire with the document for essentially the most consecutive profitable UFC heavyweight championship defenses (3) and essentially the most complete defenses of that title (4). His UFC run contains wins over elite competitors, together with Daniel Cormier, Francis Ngannou, Junior dos Santos, Fabricio Werdum, Alistair Overeem, and Andrei Arlovski.

The 14-year veteran regarded removed from his greatest on Saturday, although he refused to make any excuses for his efficiency.

“I anticipated all the things,” Miocic stated. “I simply didn’t do what I used to be speculated to do. Congratulations to him, he did what he was speculated to do and he gained. Hats off to him, I would like nothing however one of the best for him.”