Jon Jones is looking to reestablish his undisputed dominance of the UFC’s light heavyweight division at UFC 200 when he meets Daniel Cormier for a second time, and it seems he’s planning to stick around indefinitely.
While a potential move to heavyweight has seemed to be a logical next step for the 28-year-old, he now says his mind’s moving away from that idea.
“To be honest with you, heavyweight really doesn’t really seem as appealing to me as it once did,” Jones said in an interview with MMAJunkie.com. “I’m almost 30 now, and I’m not really having any more growth spurts. This is pretty much the size I’m going to be, and it’s so easy for me to make light heavyweight.
“As I get older, and as I mature and take things more seriously – you know, diet and everything – it’s become easier for me to maintain, and I’ve never missed weight.”
On top of feeling comfortable in the weight class, Jones says he’s got unfinished business in the division with several fights on his mind for the future, but he leaves things open from there.
“I would love to rematch Gustafsson at some point,” Jones said. “Anthony Johnson is obviously a fight that I need to get out of the way. Beating Daniel Cormier again is huge for my legacy. But really, just those three names, Cormier, Gustafsson, and Johnson, are the guys I want to fight again the most, and that’s it. That’s as far as my eyes can see right now.”
Penick’s Analysis: When there was Cain Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum atop the division, with some semblance of consistency and dominance, there was more appeal to Jones moving up. When heavyweight’s a rotating list at the top, there’s less of a “super fight” feel should Jones move up. If he’s fine fighting whomever else comes up after those three names at 205 lbs., then staying put is a fine idea. Dominant champions are always pulled by different options, but it’s almost always best when they stick to where they’ve done their best work.
[Photo (c) Mark J. Rebilas via USA Today Sports]
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