Stipe Miocic Told His Management Should 'Give Him A Slap In The Face' If He Shows Interest In Tom Aspinall Fight: 'Fighters Need To Be Protected From Themselves'

Former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping believes Stipe Miocic needs to avoid fighting Tom Aspinall. 

The former two-time 265lbs kingpin hasn't fought since his brutal KO loss to Francis Ngannou all the way back at UFC 260 in March 2021. Last year, Miocic was expected to make his long-awaited return to challenge UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones at UFC 295. 

Due to an injury suffered in training, "Bones" was forced to pull out of the bout, and it is now expected to take place later this year instead. In the meantime, Tom Aspinall was crowned Interim Heavyweight Champion after making scarily fast work out of Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. 

Unsurprisingly, Aspinall has been gunning for fights with both Miocic and Jones, but  both men seem content to wait and fight each other first, instead. 

"I Say You Sidestep Tom Aspinall All Day Long" - Michael Bisping

In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, "The Count" discussed the risks for Stipe Miocic if he were to take a fight with Tom Aspinall. For one thing, his big money match with Jon Jones could be snuffed out. 

"The man's 42 years old in August, he hasn't fought since he got knocked out against Francis Ngannou almost three years ago," Bisping said. "And in that three years, let's be honest, you're declining, you're getting older, so yeah, go fight Tom Aspinall, everyone thinks you're the man, but what's at risk? Well, the fight with Jon Jones."

Bisping went on to confirm that if he were Miocic's manager, he would strongly advise him to avoid the Aspinall fight. On a business level, there's simply more money to be made in a legend vs. legend bout with "Bones" than there is opposite a rising star like Aspinall. 

"Now I'm a fan of Tom Aspinall okay, but if I'm managing Stipe, I say you sidestep Tom Aspinall all day long," Bisping explained. "Even if Stipe looked kind of interested, I would give him a slap in the face. I'm like, 'What are you talking about?' Fighters need to be protected from themselves and if Stipe was thinking about that, it just doesn't make smart business sense."