For a man who’s just entering his heyday, 27-year-old UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones could have the most fruitful year of his illustrious career in store for him in 2015.
Bones began the year the way he envisioned it and defended his belt for the eighth consecutive time by outlasting second-ranked and previously unbeaten Daniel Cormier in the main event of UFC 182 on Saturday.
Aside from some swelling on his face, Jones (21-1) emerged from his captivating clash with Cormier, a former Olympic freestyle wrestler, void of any injuries of concern. And unlike 2014, in which Jones had just one fight—a unanimous-decision win over Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 in April—Bones plans to have a busier year in 2015.
At the UFC 182 post-fight presser, the New York native explained that making a permanent move to the location of his team, Jackson’s MMA, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, will prove a major step in his attempt to truly immerse himself in the sport.
My plan is to become the greatest fighter of all time, and it’s so feasible and it’s so attainable. All I got to do is just stay focused and keep believing just the way I believe and to keep working and I do believe 2015 will be the year that I solidify it. The big thing that I’m excited about is getting back to Albuquerque. I do not train in between fights and that’s pretty well documented. I’m sure a lot of people have seen pictures of me having this big gut and things like that. … But now that I live in Albuquerque it’s going to be huge. This next fight is going to be something else.
Bones will have several months to heal up from his war with Cormier, but in just 20 days, his focus will shift to the winner of the title-eliminator bout between top-ranked Alexander Gustafsson and third-ranked Anthony Johnson.
Gustafsson and Johnson Each Pose Different Problems for Jones
Gustafsson has won seven of his last eight bouts, with his lone loss in that span coming against Jones at UFC 165 in September 2013. Johnson is riding an eight-fight winning streak that includes wins over Phil Davis and Andre Arlovski.
Gustafsson has a 79-inch reach (5.5 inches shorter than Jones’), great boxing chops and solid Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling skills. His footwork, hand speed and unpredictability enabled him to surprise Jones and take him into deep waters in their first encounter.
Gustafsson has a never-ending gas tank and the rare mental fortitude needed to push Jones to the brink again in a rematch. He just needs to get past arguably the most dangerous man in the division, Johnson.
If the venomous Johnson happens to topple Gustafsson, he’d be an equally concerning threat to Jones’ throne.
Johnson has a 78-inch reach, tremendous pop in all of his strikes and a trusty wrestling base. Since making the ascent to light heavyweight, Rumble has won seven straight bouts, including five by way of TKO/KO.
Jones Won’t Be Bumping Up to Heavyweight in 2015
Jones said he’ll entertain challenges from heavyweights when the proper time comes. Apparently, though, that time isn’t in the near future.
Jones sounded off on the matter at the UFC 182 post-fight presser.
Making 205 is not a challenge for me at all. It hasn’t been a challenge for me. For a long time I’ve been criticized for being too big for my weight class and I think it’s an excuse of people who don’t understand my success. I’m not too big for the light heavyweight division. I’m built the way I’m built (and) I have very skinny legs, but I make weight just fine. So I’m a true light heavyweight (and) I’ll be a light heavyweight for a long time.
Bones did, however, address the idea of some day locking horns with UFC heavyweight champ and Cormier‘s teammate, Cain Velasquez.
To be honest, I would fight Cain Velasquez in a heartbeat. I really would. I’d love to fight AKA’s best athletes, and I believe I could defeat them all (and) I believe our team is the best team in the world. … But fighting at heavyweight would be surely to entertain the fans and would have to be against a perfect opponent.
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