Kevin Iole talks UFC 309

Combat sports writer talks Jon Jones master class on striking vs Stipe Miocic.

Transcript

00:00We saw Jon Jones dominate Stipe Miocic Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

00:04Stipe, Kevin, is a two-time champ. He was considered arguably the greatest heavyweight

00:09ever coming in and Jones went right through him, went right through him.

00:14What impressed you the most about Jones in that performance?

00:18I thought it was the fact that he beat Stipe at his own game, Jim. I mean, Stipe is a stand-up

00:23fighter. Yes, Stipe has great wrestling and that's what made him a really good fighter,

00:28that complete game, but Stipe is a hard-hitting knockout puncher who has great hands and Jones

00:34went forward and won a striking battle and think about that. You know, for Jon Jones,

00:38what you think of as a grappler and a wrestler, to stand there in front of one of the best

00:43strikers in the UFC's heavyweight division that they've ever had, boy, that was really an

00:47impressive performance there. I agree with you. What about his

00:50spinning back kick that set up that finish? What'd you make of that?

00:54That was one of the most vicious kicks that I've seen in the UFC in quite a while. I mean,

00:59it goes back to when Gabriel Gonzaga kicked Krokop in the head and knocked him out. I think

01:04that was at UFC 70. That was an amazing one and, boy, last night, I mean, got him right

01:10under the ribcage and the minute that that landed, the fight was over.

01:13We were talking to Kevin Aioli. So, Kevin, any doubt in your mind that even after that layoff and

01:18Dana White and I have talked about this, I'm sure you and he have talked about it too,

01:21he really does believe in ring rust. Any doubt in your mind that despite that layoff,

01:26that Jones is still pound for pound the best in the world?

01:29There isn't, Jim. I mean, I think when you look at what he's done, look at his record.

01:34He beat Cyril Ghosn in 2023. Now, I didn't have him in my rankings for the last six or seven

01:39months because he hadn't fought in more than 12 months. And so I don't think it's fair to

01:44rank somebody if they haven't been active in a year. But when you look at it, you say 18 months

01:48ago, he beat Cyril Ghosn in impressive fashions, submits him in two minutes when it took Francis

01:54and Ghosn five rounds to go to a decision with him. Then he turns around and he does this to

01:58Steve Bamiychik. How can you doubt him, especially when you look at that career-long resume?