After a decade-long reign in the UFC light heavyweight division, Jon Jones is finally moving up to heavyweight. Without any doubt, Jon Jones is the greatest light heavyweight to ever compete in the octagon. The majority of the MMA community even consider him as the greatest fighter to ever do it. But, there is one status that he has not been able to achieve in his illustrious MMA career.
Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, Henry Cejudo are the only fighters to hold two UFC titles in different divisions. Though Jones has relinquished his light heavyweight title winning the heavyweight title would put him in an elite group of fighters. And Jones is leaving no stones unturned for the preparation of his heavyweight debut.
Jon Jones reveals when he makes his UFC return
The recent workout videos of Jones have been raising some eyebrows. Jones looks huge ahead of his heavyweight debut. He has been following an intense lifting program to fit into a heavyweight frame. However, one aspect of Jones’ body has always been considered the weakest and it is his skinny legs.
Though Jones can do some insane amount of damage with his leg kicks he does not have a big calf when compared to other UFC light heavyweights. And if we compare Jones to the current UFC heavyweights such as Derrick Lewis or Francis Ngannou, Jones is way smaller in size.
UFC middleweight, Kevin Holland showed up on Joe Rogan Podcast recently and they reacted to Jones’ training videos. The ever witty, Kevin Holland mocked Jon Jones by pointing out how skinny Jones’s calves are. But, Joe Rogan made a fascinating point about Jones’ skinny legs. Rogan seemed shocked that Jones’ legs are so strong despite being so skinny.
Can Jon Jones overcome the size disadvantage at heavyweight?
Though Jones’s size will be a disadvantage when he moves up to heavyweight he still can beat some of the best fighters in the division. Jones will be faster and more skilled than most of the heavyweights in the division. Jones has a rock-solid chin and he has taken the best shots from some of the most powerful punchers in the game. But will he be able to take the strikes from the likes of Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou?
Other than a few fighters such as Daniel Cormier and Randy Couture not a lot of light heavyweights have had huge success at the heavyweight division. However, Jones’ skillset certainly gives him a higher chance of success than the rest of the light heavyweights in UFC history.