Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is days away from making his heavyweight debut at UFC 285, but you don’t have to wait until Saturday to see what he’s up to. will look like inside the cage.
Competing with the big boys at heavyweight meant Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) had to pile on a few pounds on his 6-foot-4 frame, and he’s spent the past three years adding bulk while maintaining his athleticism. At UFC 285 media day on Wednesday, Jones addressed the changes in his physique and how he expects to play inside the cage against Ciryl Gane (11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) for the vacant heavyweight title in the main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“Honestly, I feel like a stronger version of myself,” Jones told reporters. “I’m not super skinny. I don’t have a mean six-pack like I used to. Took me a while to get used to it, you know what I mean? Like, back then, I judged my fitness level by the way I looked in the mirror.
“I’m a heavyweight now. It’s not about what you look like. It’s about your performance. I feel like I’m performing well. …I feel really good. I like it. I eat what I want, I feel good. Life is beautiful.”
Footage from the UFC 285 pre-fight photoshoot is now available, and you can get a first look at Jones’ heavyweight frame in the Venum UFC fight kit. Take a look at Jones’ new physique below (via Getty Images):
Embed from Getty Images
For comparison to Jones’ light heavyweight frame, check out these images before his last outing at UFC 247 in February 2020:
Embed from Getty Images
At UFC 247, Jones was just below the light heavyweight championship mark for his title defense against Dominick Reyes, stepping on the scales at 204 pounds.
It remains to be seen what he’ll tip the scales on Friday morning at the official weigh-ins, but it’s clear from the footage that he’s nowhere near the light heavyweight boundary these days.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s Event Hub for UFC 285.
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