Who do you want to see more: Jon Jones or Mike Tyson?

Both of their fights lack the right opponent

Extra Mustard is a weekly column looking at the highs and lows–and everything in between–in combat sports and beyond.

In only 12 days, Jon Jones returns to the cage.

One night before that, Mike Tyson steps back into the boxing ring.

Jones will defend the heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic on pay-per-view at UFC 309, which takes place in the heart of New York at Madison Square Garden. Tyson is matched up against Jake Paul–yes, this is the strangest timeline–on Netflix at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Both are exciting bouts, each with their own drawbacks. Interestingly, the flaw in each fight is the opponent.

On paper, Jones vs. Miocic stands out. Miocic (20-4) is a former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, and he has the most consecutive title defenses (3) in the history of the UFC heavyweight division. The winner of this bout should instantly become the greatest heavyweight to ever set foot in UFC history.

But let’s pump the brakes on that.

Miocic, 42, has not competed since dropping the heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou in March of 2021. More than three years have passed since Ngannou knocked him out, which is an important detail. That is because this fight at UFC 309 has as much to do with Ngannou as it does with Miocic.

Jones made quick work of Gane at UFC 285/Zuffa LLC

Ngannou now fights for the PFL, the newest and boldest entity to compete against Dana White’s UFC. In his last fight with the UFC, Ngannou successfully defended the heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane in January of 2022, then left the UFC as heavyweight champion–a rarity in the sport–and signed with PFL. Without a champion, White pitted Jones against Gane for the vacant title in March of 2023–a fight Jones (27-1, 1 NC) won with ease.

But it’s a bad look that Ngannou left. And even worse that he defeated both Miocic and Gane before leaving. That is why it is so important that Jones fights Miocic (who Ngannou already knocked out), a bout that is already a year past its expiration date, instead of a more deserving opponent like interim champ Tom Aspinall.