“I always have so much confidence in Jon because it’s almost like he doesn’t know how to lose”.
Holly Holm has every faith in Jon Jones ahead of his UFC heavyweight debut, claiming that the former light heavyweight champion is taking the move up to heavyweight very seriously.
Holm believes Jones’ fight IQ and confidence are two defining attributes that set him apart from the competition and that he maintains an undeniable aura of invincibility despite his controversial decision win over Dominick Reyes in Feb. 2020.
“He’s putting in the time to get stronger, and I know that he’s going to make this change and really embrace it and jump in 100 percent and do everything he needs to be ready,” Holm told MMA Junkie’s Nolan King and Mike Bohn in a recent interview. “I always have so much confidence in Jon because it’s almost like he doesn’t know how to lose. When he goes in there, it’s almost expected that he’s going to win by so many people. If there’s any fight that somebody gives him a little bit of a fight, then they’re like, ‘I don’t know’ – just because it’s a close fight.
“… He’s a champion for a reason. He’s not going to go to heavyweight and just do it half-assed. He’s going to jump in. We all know he’s not just going to go in thinking he wants to just try it out. He’s going to go with purpose. He’s going to go with intent. He’s going to go with the will to want to do it. In order to do so, he’s going to do it right. That’s what he’s always done.”
Holm went on to add that ‘Bone’s’ skill is ‘on another level’ and that the pound-for-pound great is just as big, if not bigger, than most other heavyweights in the UFC.
“I don’t know how many fighters are actually taller than him and he’s very strong,” she said. “His skill set, I believe, is just better. He has a better skill set. He’s already as tall as them. I don’t think people really think about that a lot. It’s like, ‘Oh, he’s going up in weight, and these guys are big.’ It’s like, ‘Yeah, they are big, but Jon is a big guy.’ If you’ve ever stood next to him, he’s a big guy. He’s not a small 205er. He’s tall. He’s long. He’s skilled. He’s got more speed. Like I said, his skill is just on another level – so I think he can go in and do very well.”
Jones is expected to challenge the winner of Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou for the heavyweight title. Miocic-Ngannou will headline UFC 260 on March 27 at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas.