UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic hasn’t been seen in the Octagon since defeating Junior Dos Santos in the main event of UFC 211.
Contract negotiations are going well with the UFC and the champion plans on making his return soon.
“We’re talking,” Miocic said on The MMA Hour. “I’m probably looking at December or the end of January. Definitely, it’s all good. I’ve got a great management team and they’re doing everything they’re supposed to. We’re talking -- it’s all good.”
Miocic had been wanting a new contract with the UFC for quite some time, because he was angry that his title challenger at UFC 203 in Alistair Overeem made more money than he did for their fight.
The champion has a few potential title challengers in mind, including a foe that he has previously defended the gold against.
“I don’t know. I’m not the UFC. If I was a matchmaker I wouldn’t be fighting, but (Ngannou) is a very tough guy,” he said. “He’s been running through people and he’s getting better in every fight. He’s definitely a great up and comer and he’s got a great future ahead of him. Listen, whoever the UFC wants me to fight, I’ll fight – Overeem, or whoever’s next. Volkov -- he’s a tough guy too, but I have a hard time saying his name for whatever reason. Cain, whoever they say, I’m not going to back down.”
If Miocic does make his return by the end of the year, then the champion could be defending the gold at UFC 218 or UFC 219 because both take place in December.
