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Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic were all set to headline what was billed as greatest heavyweight title fight of all-time at UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden.
Now that fight is no longer, after Jones was forced to pull out due to a torn pec.
Miocic is now left without a fight, and the UFC heavyweight division has ground to a halt.
Although the injury wasn’t hit fault, Jones apologized to Miocic on Thursday via an Instagram video.
“I wanted to say thank you to Stipe Miocic for all the work that he’s put in. Also, sorry to Stipe and his team. Like I said, this comes with the territory.”
Jones also took the time to delve into what comes next for the division as he recovers.
“I guess it will be Stipe and I at a later date, and that’s my plan,” Jones said. “Hopefully, these other heavyweights, Aspinall and Sergei, put it on a great show for you guys. I may even show up to the event to watch. But I love you all, and hey, your boy Jon Jones is doing OK.”
Miocic, in the meantime, will not fight for an interim title. UFC president Dana White recently explained why that’s the case.
“To even call Stipe and ask Stipe to fight for an interim title is complete disrespect. This is a fight for two legends, legacy, two of the greatest to ever do it, fans want to see it, I want to see it, and they both want to do it.”
Instead, the division remains in limbo.
Ciryl Gane is the division’s top-ranked active fighter, followed by Sergei Pavlovich and Miocic. But Miocic recently turned 41 years old, and if the UFC wants him to fight Jones for the title, an interim champ only further delays that possibility.