UFC light heavyweight champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones (14-1) is set to defend his title for a second time, and will step into the Octagon for a fourth time in 2011 when he meets former champ Lyoto Machida this weekend.
The two are set to headline UFC 140 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario.
Jones was a guest on The MMA Hour earlier today, telling host Ariel Helwani that he’s “the best I’ve ever been.”
“Judging on my numbers in the weight room, judging on my numbers in the cardio tests, it’s the best I’ve ever been,” Jones said. “I’m the best fighter that I’ve ever been right now.”
“That I got good at fighting … that changes nothing about the real world. I have changed as an athlete — I believe in my heart that I’m the best, I believe I won’t lose to Lyoto, or Rashad [Evans], or [Dan] Henderson or any of the other guys. … As ‘Bones’ I’m growing and yeah I’m a little cocky and it’s important to be that way. But as Jonathan, in the real world, everyone who meets me will say I treated them with the utmost respect.”
Jones has dismantled virtually all of his opponents, and many expect the same when he meets ‘The Dragon’ this Saturday. If Jones is truly feeling that he is at “his best” right now, then Machida will really need to elevate his fight game if he wants to walk away with UFC gold.