‘Fought A Full-Time Fire Fighter’ – Jon Jones Legacy Questioned by UFC Great Over Retirement Fight

Former UFC bantamweight champion and legend Dominick Cruz jokes about Jon Jones' retirement fight against Stipe Miocic.

‘Fought A Full-Time Fire Fighter’ – Jon Jones Legacy Questioned by UFC Great Over Retirement Fight

Dominick Cruz says that Jon Jones beat firefighter Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 (via Athlon Sports, ESPN)

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There are numerous instances of UFC fighters balancing their time between training for the Octagon and maintaining other jobs. While some take on external jobs due to financial problems, many fighters like to follow their passion. Former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz recently took a jab at Jon Jones for retiring after fighting Stipe Miocic, as the 43-year-old had primarily started to work as a firefighter.

For the unversed, Miocic began working as a full-time firefighter for the Westlake Fire Department in Ohio after his 2021 heavyweight title loss to Francis Ngannou. He returned to the Octagon in November 2024 in hopes of reclaiming his title from Jones at UFC 309. However, the fight ended in a loss for Miocic after a vicious spinning back kick from Jones that was followed up by hammer fists.

Cruz recently appeared on Mightycast, which is a podcast hosted by UFC legend Demetrious Johnson. The two spoke about a variety of topics, including their illustrious careers and recent UFC matchups. The conversation quickly leaned towards how ‘Bones’ did not choose the then-interim champion, Tom Aspinall, and instead fought Miocic, who was out of training camp and was pursuing firefighting.

Stipe was a full-time firefighter before he fought Jon Jones. That’s my point, who is talking about that? He came back and fought a full-time firefighter. He didn’t come back and fight Tom Aspinall, who is sitting in the gym staring at Jon Jones tape. I am not hating, but it’s the truth.

Dominick Cruz via Mightycast

Miocic was widely recognized as one of the greatest heavyweight champions and was not expected to return to the cage after the brutal knockout loss against Ngannou at UFC 260. With double title victories against Daniel Cormier and dominant performances against the likes of Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum, Miocic cemented himself as a GOAT candidate in heavyweight history.

On the other hand, Jones made his much-anticipated return to the Octagon after three years against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 and submitted the Frenchman, marking his return to the UFC. However, ever since then, fans were hoping to see him fight Aspinall, but ‘Bones’ ignored the noise and went ahead with the Miocic fight. Despite the dominant finish, Jones formally announced his retirement and relinquished the title.

However, Jones left fans confused after he announced that he had re-entered the testing pool. Jones’ greatness is secure, yet his path at heavyweight continues to spark debate. Ultimately, Cruz’s comments have underscored a broader theme in MMA about how fighters are judged not only by their victories but also by the circumstances surrounding them.

Fans react to Dominick Cruz’s comments regarding Jon Jones retirement fight

Conversations around Jon Jones’ legacy often go far beyond the results in the cage, touching on the circumstances and opponents that define each chapter of his career. The recent comments from Dominick Cruz added another layer to that discussion, and fans were quick to weigh in with their own opinions on whether the analysis was fair.

Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic at UFC 309
Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 (via ABC News)

The MMA community quickly latched onto Cruz’s remark, with many fans debating whether his point held merit. Some fans believed that Jon Jones hand-picked opponents and avoided their prime versions. While others dismissed the former bantamweight champions’ remarks and supported ‘Bones’. Here are some fan reactions to Cruz’s “firefighter” comments:

Many fans ultimately believed that Miocic had been retired in all but name, and only returned to the cage for one last big paycheck. It was a perception that added even more weight to Cruz’s sharp critique.

Meanwhile, Jones was criticized for taking the safer matchup instead of testing himself against the younger and more active Tom Aspinall. Some praised Jon Jones’ illustrious career, while others believe that the Aspinall fight is an asterisk on his legendary run.

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