Before his long-awaited transition to heavyweight, UFC great Jon Jones put on the fight.
The former long-reigning light-heavyweight champion has been working out hard for about a year to put on weight.
And the hours he spent working out have undoubtedly paid off for his once-lean body.
The 35-year-old pound-for-pound champion Jones is now a massive 255 pounds (18 stone, 2 pounds) after undergoing a physical makeover in 2021.
Bones’ current walk-around weight and his typical pre-fight weight is an incredible 32.5 lbs (two stones, 3 lbs).
The New York native’s physique has lost some of its former definition and leanness.
Yet, he won’t be concerned about that as he attempts to compete in the UFC’s highly competitive heavyweight class.
Jones said of his bulk: “It feels good not to be depriving myself of food anymore, can’t fit any of my suits but I’m moving well.”
After defeating Dominick Reyes in February 2020, Jones, widely regarded as the greatest fighter of all time, hasn’t stepped foot inside the octagon.
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An ongoing salary dispute with the UFC hierarchy and president Dana White has partially caused the JacksonWink star’s absence from the ring.
Jones is seeking financial compensation for his much-anticipated weight increase, but the two parties have not yet agreed on a fair amount.
Also, he feels that a super-fight with recently anointed heavyweight king Francis Ngannou is worth upwards of £7.25 million ($10 million).
He tweeted in 2021: “I had a brief phone meeting with UFC‘s lawyer Hunter a few days ago.”
“As of right now I expressed to him that anywhere around eight to $10 million would be way too low for a fight of this magnitude. That’s all that has been discussed so far.”
“I believe I was grossly underpaid throughout my entire 20s. I’m not even here bitching about that. I just want to see the future done right.”
Jones is prepared to wait until a solution is reached because he is keen to receive the compensation to which he believes he is entitled.
He wrote on Twitter: “Honestly, I feel like the only people that it benefits me jumping in their early are the other heavyweights.
“The way I’m training, I’m gonna be a real problem this time next year. I’m comfortable enough to wait and that’s exactly what I’ll do.”
He said “Sure. ” when questioned by a fan if that phrase meant another year outside the cage.
“I got a feeling you guys will still be around.”
“The sport should be bigger than ever by then. Always looking on the bright side.”
And when he eventually arranges a bout, Jones’ trainer, Brandon Gibson, believes he has everything he needs to succeed at heavyweight.
He said to MMA Junkie: “I think there’s a lot of areas that Jon could exploit at heavyweight.
“He has such a wide arsenal of techniques. He’s so dangerous.”
“There’s a lot of heavyweights that are great boxers, that are great in the clinch, but Jon’s wrestling is on another level.”