Jon Jones is days out from making that much-awaited walk to the UFC Octagon. Taking on Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, Jones’ return has been a long time coming. As such, moving up a weight class has also been an interesting experience for him.
Speaking to Robert Whittaker and Alexander Volkanovski, Jon gave a little more insight on the matter. As part of an interview for Fox Sports Australia, Jonny Bones was quizzed on the various changes he experienced during his bulking phase. Having done a similar thing himself to face Islam Makhachev at UFC 284, Volkanovski presented Jones with the question.
“You’ve got to adapt to what the mission requires.” Jones continues, “Now I love fitness, I love being 250 pounds, I feel incredibly strong, I feel like I think more clearer now that I eat more food, I sleep better, s*xual performance is better, without the d**k pills”. All in all, Jon believes that the bulk-up has affected him positively in most areas of life.
Ever since the announcement of the fight, there has been a lot of question about whether or not Jones will be able to adapt to the new weight. However, according to many, Jones looks more imposing than ever and is reportedly feeling bigger and stronger, and more confident heading into the fight.
Jon Jones and his heavyweight transformation
Feeling like a fighter reborn, we have heard a lot about Jones and his journey to becoming a heavyweight. As such, Jon believes that he has evolved from what people saw of him throughout his career as a light heavyweight. Having planned his move up in 2020, it is safe to say that Jon has definitely put in the required time for this step.
Previously, Jones spoke about his newfound strength and power. As such, he is not afraid to stand and bang and is willing to stay in the pocket with anybody in the division. Recently, fans were able to get a little teaser of what to expect from Jones. In a sparring session with fellow heavyweight and friend Walt Harris, Jones is seen pulling off an expertly executed takedown and Jon rag-dolled the fighter.
Thus, many fans are excited to see what more Jones can bring to the Octagon come March 4. Although many are expecting Jones to be slow and lethargic during the fight, all the sparring clips so far suggest otherwise. As such, it is highly unlikely that Jones will be uncomfortable in his heavyweight frame.
With Gane likely to come in much lighter and swifter than Jones, the matchup will be an interesting one. Whilst we have seen Gane struggle against wrestling, his striking remains second to none. Hence, fans are curious to see what strategy Jones has cooked up in order to claim the heavyweight title.
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