Another UFC trade? Arjan Bhullar asks ONE to go after Stipe Miocic

Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic recently vented his frustration at the UFC. In response to an Instagram post from ONE Championship, which was asking who the Singapore-based promotion should sign next, Miocic responded with a row of ‘thinking’ emojis.

Miocic then expressed, in a response to another Instagram user, his frustration at not being able to get an immediate rematch with Francis Ngannou, the man who beat him for the UFC heavyweight title in March.

“I shouldn’t have to wait for a winner,” wrote Miocic. “I have the most heavyweight title defenses of all time… we’re 1:1 but DC got instant rematches and trilogies against me?”

ONE Championship heavyweight champion Arjan Bhullar seized upon Miocic’s comments and is now hoping to draw the American over to his stomping ground.

Bhullar, who won the belt with a win over Brandon Vera in May, told Miocic “I see you” in the replies to Miocic’s first comment. “Nothing to think about get your ass out here. I bust you up everywhere and finish the job for my big brother DC.”

Bhullar then tagged ONE President Chatri Sityodtong and said “Let’s do a trade”.

The Indian-Canadian then doubled down on his words, tweeting, “Another UFC fighter who’s not happy with how he’s treated. I’d love to get my hands on you [Stipe Miocic] I went through three training camps for you already and know exactly how I’d bust you up.”

The three training camps refer to time Bhullar spent helping his AKA teammate Daniel Cormier prepare for Miocic.

Trades between MMA organizations are improbable, but not impossible. The UFC and ONE pulled off a trade in 2018 when ZUFFA sent former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson to Asia in exchange for ONE welterweight king Ben Askren.

Miocic first lifted the UFC heavyweight title in 2016, with a KO win over Fabricio Werdum. He defended the belt three times versus Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos and Ngannou. He lost the title to Cormier in 2018. Though he regained it in an immediate rematch later that year. In 2019 he retained the title by beating Cormier in a trilogy bout at UFC 241. He lost the belt to Ngannou in his next bout.

Miocic currently holds the record for most UFC heavyweight title defenses, most consecutive UFC heavyweight title defenses and is tied for most wins in UFC heavyweight title fights. He also holds the record for most UFC post-fight bonuses by a heavyweight.

Before Bhullar joined ONE, he had a four fight stint with the UFC. He debuted in 2017, beating Luis Henrique. He was then submitted by Adam Wieczorek. Before being released by the UFC he beat Marcelo Golm and Juan Adams, both by unanimous decision.

Bhullar represented Canada in freestyle wrestling at the 2012 London Olympics. In 2010 he won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in the 120 kg category.