Since Jon Jones announced his move to heavyweight in August, most of his time has been devoted to bulking up. The recent updates we’ve seen from “Bones” are him doing 600-pound deadlifts and showing off his 250-pound frame.
On Thursday, the former perennial light heavyweight champion posted a video of himself hitting pads at his home gym at the JacksonWink Academy.
I feel like I move pretty good for a fat boy, I believe I’ll be moving at my all-time best once I actually get in shape pic.twitter.com/qjEsXfShid
— BONY (@JonnyBones) February 26, 2021
For the first time, fans are getting a preview of Jones’ striking abilities as a heavyweight competitor. Some of them weren’t impressed with what they saw.
I wouldn’t have posted this. You looking slower bro.
— Brad Wolfe (@chucky_wolf) February 26, 2021
I don’t see any punch that will knockout a true heavyweight
— Luis Gallegos (@shaggygallegos) February 26, 2021
Calf kick will be your demise. Look at them twigs.
— LonZion (@art556) February 26, 2021
Putting my life insurance your going to lose your first hw fight
— nasir (@abdiyng) February 26, 2021
It’s obviously silly to make judgments based on a pad work video. But if there’s someone who can give a more accurate assessment, it’ll be a close teammate like Holly Holm. Here’s what the former bantamweight champion had to say.
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.
The 33-year-old Jones hasn’t seen action since February 2020, when he fought Dominick Reyes at UFC 247. He won the fight via a hotly contested decision.