
via Imago
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 06: Jon Jones is interviewed after his win over Thiago Santos of Brazil in their UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 239 event at T-Mobile Arena on July 6, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC)

via Imago
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 06: Jon Jones is interviewed after his win over Thiago Santos of Brazil in their UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 239 event at T-Mobile Arena on July 6, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC)
Jon Jones took to Twitter and had some interesting things to say about his move to the UFC’s heavyweight division. Jones relinquished his 205-pound title in 2020 and announced that he would finally be making his way to heavyweight. In the wake of his decision, Jan Blachowicz picked up the 205-pound strap when he KOed Dominick Reyes in their fight.
Fans have been speculating about the exact reasons that prompted Jones to finally make his move to a new division. ‘Bones’ has been the figurehead at light heavyweight ever since he became the youngest undisputed champion in the organization. As far as Jones is concerned though, it seems like there’s no need for any more speculation as he laid it on the line.
I left the LHW division because I was terrified of Dominic, even though Jan was guaranteed the next title shot.🤷🏾♂️ And then once the MW champ suddenly moved up, I knew I had made the right choice 😂 Glad I decided to go the easy route pic.twitter.com/3vXtuTvwcL
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 2, 2021
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Yep, just couldn’t see myself beating Jan, his style is like nothing I’ve seen before 🥴and the thought of fighting a middleweight striker in 2021 was the final straw, figured Francis take down defense was worse, had to run 🧠 https://t.co/88jAHojzlL
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 2, 2021
Jones’ sarcasm fuelled explanation is exactly what fans and pundits have come to expect from the Twitter-savvy fighter. He’s extremely vocal about the path he’s decided to take and leaves no doubt that he backs his decisions.
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Jon Jones: Where does he go from here?
Sarcastic rants aside, Jon Jones’s immediate future is largely unknown, and it’s unclear what his 2021 will look like. Although he’s not a credentialed champion at the moment, it’s almost impossible to see him as such. Not to mention the fact that he’s yet to actually lose an MMA fight, until such time, Jones will be looked at as undisputed.

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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 06: Jon Jones enters the octagon in his UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 239 event at T-Mobile Arena on July 6, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC)
UFC President Dana White has been on record saying that Jon Jones will not leapfrog over Francis Ngannou for the next title shot. Chiefly, after four straight KO’s it’s impossible to deny ‘The Predator’ his second crack at Stipe Miocic. Furthermore, Jones’ middleweight rival Israel Adesanya is booked for a March date with 205-pound king Jan Blachowicz.
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This well and truly leaves Jones sitting on the shelf through the first half of 2021. Additionally, he recently came out and shut down any possible return to light heavyweight for the remainder of his career.
‘Bones’ will have to look towards fighting top heavyweight contenders like Derrick Lewis or Curtis Blaydes if he is to maintain his activity level. Moreover, this would be a move that makes sense considering he’s planning to remain a heavyweight staple going forward.
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