Jon Jones’ new views on move to heavyweight
“As I get older I’m maturing a lot more. My weight cuts are becoming a lot more easy. I’m learning how to eat better. I’ll probably be at light heavyweight for a long time.”
UFC light heavyweight Jon Jones recently appeared on a Google Hangout arranged by Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA teammate Andrei Arlovski. Back in 2012 ‘Bones’ viewed a move to heavyweight as inevitable.
“I’ll definitely move up to heavyweight,” he said at the time. “But it’ll probably be around 2013. Maybe at the end of 2013.”
Now it is 2015, and he answered the question of a move to heavyweight quite differently.
“Honestly, probably not,” said Jones as transcribed by David St. Martin for MMAFighting.com. “As I get older I’m maturing a lot more. My weight cuts are becoming a lot more easy. I’m learning how to eat better. I’ll probably be at light heavyweight for a long time.”
“I’ll probably go to heavyweight for one or two superfights at some point and then get back down to light heavyweight.”
Sp Jones’s plan now is to break records at light heavyweight.
“In mixed martial arts, I would say that Anderson Silva has been my biggest motivation and inspiration,” he said. “Just because of the things he’s been able to achieve, the records that he has. Sometimes I feel as if the journey’s been long. When I start to think that way I remember that there have been people who have had the belt longer than I’ve had it. Who have defended it more than I’ve defended it. It makes me feel ‘If they did it, there’s no reason to be tired.’
“You’ve got to freaking muster it up and give it your all every time. Until I beat one of these guys’ records I’m going to keep on pushing and give it all I’ve got.”
Jones has nine wins in UFC title bouts. Anderson Silva has eleven. Georges St-Pierre has twelve. Jones fights Anthony Johnson on May 23 at UFC 187 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A win there would tie GSP’s nine UFC title defenses in a row, with only Silva ahead of him, with ten.
Jones also discussed Phil Davis moving to Bellator MMA.
“Mr. JV himself,” began Jones. “To be honest, I’m happy for him if he’s going to make more money over there. Ultimately, it’s about providing for our families. It’s a job at the end of the day. If he’s going to be treated better over there, good for him.
“I do believe the competition is not as stiff at Bellator as the UFC so I think he’ll definitely be a top three guy in the world now. Good for him. Maybe he’ll even win it. To be a world champion and to make a little more money, that’s a win-win. But good luck ‘crumbling me like a cookie’ from all the way over there.”