There’s been a lot of speculation about whether UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones will retire after his fight with Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 later this month, and his long-time coach Brandon Gibson has acknowledged that he’s approached their fight camp like it may be there last one.
“Whenever Jon’s ready [to retire], I’m right there with him,” Gibson told MMA Fighting. “I’m approaching this one like it’s our last go, it’s our last rodeo.”
If Jones beats Miocic on November 16th in New York City fans are clamouring to see him go on to fight current interim titleholder Tom Aspinall next, but while Gibson would be happy to see him fight on, he doesn’t feel that the star has anything left to prove.
“I think physically, mentally, he could go in there and have five or six more great performances,” Gibson said
“There’s nothing left for Jon to prove. I think he really wants this fight with Stipe. I think this fight will help solidify Jon’s status as that great heavyweight champion but it’s not something we talk about every night at the gym. We’re definitely all eyes on Nov. 16. But each time I go to a practice, I’m approaching it as this is my last camp. I’m giving it my all.
“If we get one more after this, if we get two more, that would be a great blessing. I’m also ready to see Jon hang it up. Put the belt up. I’d prefer them to walk away obviously earlier than later. Out of all the fighters, Jon deserves to walk away any time he wants. I’m always going to support those guys.
“There’s always going to be a next No. 1 contender,” Gibson continued. “There’s never going to be a perfect time to walk out. Somebody will always say ‘but you didn’t fight that guy.’ To me, it doesn’t matter.
“Ten years from now we’ll have all the generational talks. How would [Muhammad] Ali have done against [Mike] Tyson? How would a Tyson done against Tyson Fury. There’s always going to be those types of discussions that will come down the road, too. There’s always a lot of what ifs in this game but what I do know is Nov. 16 we’ll be standing across the cage, across the octagon from Stipe and his great team. That’s what we’re focused on.”
