UFC legend Jon Jones has completed his heavyweight transformation and is now poised to make a big impact when he debuts in the division later this year.
On Thursday, the former UFC light-heavyweight champion uploaded a clip from a recent pad session with his longtime trainer Brandon Gibson.
‘Bones’ looked lively as he stripped bare and delivered a message of how well prepared he is for his long-awaited and eagerly awaited debut at heavyweight.
“Right now I’m exactly where I need to be, excited to see myself in a few months when things start to pick up speed. I’m feeling sharp on every level,” Jones wrote alongside the video. on Instagram.
The 35-year-old hasn’t fought since defending his lightweight title with a split decision victory over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February 2020.
Following this fight, Jones relinquished his 205-pound title and announced his intention to compete at heavyweight in the future.
However, the swelling process and a contract issue with the UFC have kept him out of action ever since.
Former UFC fighter Yorgan De Castro recently sparred with Jones and revealed the Hall of Famer now weighs 255 pounds, just 10 pounds shy of the heavyweight limit of 265 pounds.
That’s a far cry from the skinny 6-foot-4, 205-pound fighter who burst onto the scene in 2008, before becoming the youngest champion in UFC history when he beat Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua in 2011 at only 23 years old.
UFC President Dana White recently confirmed that Jones is ready to make his heavyweight debut and is only waiting for an opponent who is likely to be Francis Ngannou or Stipe Miocic.
Ngannou, who currently holds the UFC heavyweight title, underwent knee surgery following his win over Ciryl Gane earlier this year and was expected to be out for the rest of 2022, however. , he recently hinted at a December comeback.
Miocic has not been seen in the UFC since losing the heavyweight title to Ngannou in March 2021.
The 39-year-old was briefly linked with a July fight with Jones, but it’s been revealed he won’t be ready to fight again until September at the earliest.