Striking coach Brandon Gibson is seeing a different Jon Jones since UFC 232, that he expects a more active year from the current light heavyweight champion.
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has fought a mere four times in the last three years. His absence was caused by multiple suspensions stemming from code of conduct violations and two failed drug tests.
But for the year 2019, “Bones” and his team are looking to change that. According to striking coach Brandon Gibson, the 31-year-old fighter has been greatly motivated since reclaiming the 205-pound title at UFC 232 in December via a third-round TKO win over Alexander Gustafsson.
“Jon was already in the gym this week, which was unheard of back in the day after a big win,” Gibson told MMAWeekly. “Jon would take a sabbatical; he’d be on a beach thinking of anything but fighting. For him to be not only talking to the team after a big win, already trying to strategize for the next fight but he’s already in the gym.
“I’m actually going to go work out with him in a few hours. Jon owes it to himself, he owes it to his family, he owes it to the fans, to the UFC, to the team, to keep this momentum going.”
Jones did get himself a fight immediately after UFC 232, as he is now scheduled to defend the title against Anthony Smith at UFC 235. Gibson says this fight is the start of a new old trend in Jones’ career of being a more active competitor.
“We’re never going to rush anything that we’re not prepared for and I think it’s been clear from our history in the past that we don’t mind hitting the brakes on something that we don’t feel matches our timeline,” Gibson explained. “But I really do believe Jon is going to fight three times this year and we’re going to have some tough challenges. Some young guys with nothing to lose.
“It’s going to be our job to go make a statement with every single one of those performances.”
Ultimately, Gibson is perfectly content with where Jones is at right now.
“Everybody’s hungry to get right back to work. Nobody wants to sit back and revel in the victory,” he said. “We want to get right back to work because I agree if Jon really chooses to set this schedule as he’s envisioned, he’s going to separate himself from everybody else on this GOAT discussion if he chooses to.
“I hope it brings fear to all these contenders who want to come get some.”
UFC 235 takes place on March 2nd in Las Vegas. Also part of the card is the welterweight title fight between Tyron Woodley and Kamaru Usman, as well as Ben Askren’s UFC debut against Robbie Lawler.