The combat world is still waiting to see if Jon Jones will finally make his Heavyweight debut later this year, which is currently rumored to be against former 265-pound champion, Stipe Miocic.
The former Light Heavyweight champion of the world hasn’t competed since defeating Dominick Reyes in Feb. 2020, and then subsequently vacating his title six months later. “Bones” has been busy building his body up to make the transition to the 265-pound division, and one of his training partners — Yorgan De Castro — says he has what it takes to take out the biggest and best of them.
According to “The Mad Titan,” Jones is so good everywhere that it’s going to be hard for any Heavyweight to take him out.
“It would have to be someone with good ground game, like Fabricio Werdum, to maybe give him some problem on the ground,” said De Castro in an interview with MMA Fighting. “I don’t see anyone else at heavyweight with a good enough wrestling or ground game. And if they have good wrestling, Jones will be superior on the feet,” he added.
De Castro feels a Stipe Miocic showdown would be great for Jones’ debut, but it won’t end well for the former 265-pound title holder.
“The Stipe fight will be perfect. Stipe weighs the same and has good boxing. I think Jones will run through Stipe,” he added. “I think [Jones] will take him down and win by TKO. He’s been waiting two years for this. He’s walking around at 255 pounds but is so strong. And cardio will be the key. He has so much cardio. He hits pads for two hours and doesn’t slow down.”
As far as a fight against Francis Ngannou, De Castro obviously goes with Jones, as well, but says the chances of that fight happening are pretty slime given “The Predator’s” injury that will likely keep him out another year.
Furthermore, De Castro says Jon has mentioned to him that he will likely fight three more times before he calls it a career.
“Ngannou will be out nine months to fix his knee and then needs six more months in camp,” De Castro said. “Jon Jones will already be 35, and Francis will be, what? I think Jones fights once or twice more. He told me he’ll fight three times and that’s it. But if he does fight [Ngannou], it’s hard to go against Jones.
“I don’t see anyone touching the man. His wrestling is very, very, very good. His jiu-jitsu is great, he trains with Roberto Alencar at Gracie Barra. And it’s hard to touch him [on the feet]. His distance is great. I don’t think I’ve touched him once. [Laughs.] I walked forward and never touched him. He’s mean, has some techniques that are f****** great. I think he’ll put Ngannou on the ground and will with his cardio, too.”
Of course, retirement plans can change in the blink of an eye, but if “Bones” manages to capture the title along the way, he could very well decide to walk out on top as the champion to end his storied — yet complicated — career on a high note.