After reigning the UFC light heavyweight division for nearly two years, UFC Hall of Famer and former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell says he envisions a similar path for current 205-pound champion Jon Jones.
Jones has already defended the light heavyweight title on three occasions, including his recent victory over Rashad Evans last weekend at UFC 145. The champion cruised through a five-round bout, outclassing his opponent en route to earning a unanimous decision.
To consider how much the New York native has accomplished in such a short time is unprecedented, and at only 24 years old, Liddell feels like Jones still has a lot of time to progress but carries the right attitude that can elevate him to new heights in the sport.
“Jon has the right attitude, he can get there [to be the best],” Liddell told ESPN.co.uk. “He keeps working at everything, he is hungry and motivated and he has the potential [to be the best].”
What was once widely renowned as the deepest division in the UFC, has suddenly become rather shallow since Jones captured the light heavyweight strap over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua nearly a year ago.
“Bones” would follow up with two consecutive title defenses over former champions Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida later that year, capping off arguably the greatest individual year in mixed martial arts history.
Having already defeated another former champion in Evans, and slated to meet Dan Henderson later this year, Jones could essentially clean out the division before the age of 25.
And should that be the case, Jones has been linked with the possibility of competing at heavyweight, a move which Liddell says he wouldn’t be shocked to see happen.
“Jon’s got the frame for heavyweight, if he works his way up, he could definitely move up,” he said.
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