Stipe Miocic is walking into the sunset after his UFC 309 loss to Jon Jones.
Miocic, 42, failed in his bid to become just the second three-time champion in UFC history when he succumbed to a third-round TKO loss to reining heavyweight titleholder Jon Jones, confirming to Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview soon afterwards that he was “done.”
It was a somewhat anti-climactic announcement from one of the UFC’s most respected fighters who had been subject to much retirement speculation in the lead-in to the fight with Jones — but the Cleveland, Ohio native has elaborated on his decision to finally hang up the 4oz gloves with a lengthy statement published to social media.
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“Let me start this post by saying I am good,” Miocic wrote. “Been through a lot worse. I hope everybody enjoyed the show on Saturday. What an incredible way go out! I started this journey fighting in local bowling alleys & ended it selling out Madison Square Garden. It truly doesn’t get batter than that.
“Sorry I don’t get the W, but you can’t get ’em all,” he added. “Sometimes it’s not your night, that is the nature of the beast. You can’t plan a perfect ending in this sport, but I guess the perfect ending is to have been lucky enough to do it at all. You all have given me so much, and I hope I did you all proud. Croatia & Cleveland Ohio especially. I felt all of you with me at every battle.
“To my opponents, thank you all. I learned something from every single one of you. It was a honour to go to war brothers.
“And finally to the fans, you guys are the heartbeat of this sport. You are what makes the MMA amazing! Without you, we fighters don’t even exist. The rush you gave me walking down to that octagon is forever engraved in my memory! Thank you for that
“I’m not goin anywhere. Excited to start some new projects, bring back the podcast, break down all my fights & share my reality with you!
“Until my next fight……. just kidding, just kidding!
“Forever grateful. It’s been a hell of a ride!”
Miocic retires from active competition with a 20-5 record and is widely recognised as the greatest heavyweight champion in UFC history.
