There have been four champ-champs in the history of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as Daniel Cormier, Conor McGregor, Henry Cejudo and Amanda Nunes have gone where very few fighters have gone before in the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA).
While getting two belts in as many divisions seems to be everyone’s goal these days, Jon Jones isn’t in too much of a hurry to be known as such. Of course, if he ever did aim for another title, it would have to be a Heavyweight, as the current Light Heavyweight champion is probably too big to drop down to Middleweight.
Still, “Bones” says rushing to get there isn’t his main objective.
“I think it’s awesome to become a champ-champ, but I also know that I have time to do it. I am 31 years old, still one of the youngest guys in the division and I feel no need to rush that,” explained Jones during the recent UFC 239 media day.
“Continuing my dominance at Light Heavyweight is working out for me, providing for my family, breaking records. When the time is right, I will try it at Heavyweight as well.”
Jones has been one of the most dominant champions in the history of UFC, defending his Light Heavyweight title nine times, having yet to taste a true defeat inside the Octagon. While talks of moving up have been very few, Jon does eye an eventual move up.
He also spilled a secret as to how the promotion can expedite that process.
“I think the quickest way to make it happen is for UFC to reach out to me and say, ‘Hey, Jon, we want to take good care of you to take on some bigger guys and I will oblige.”
Hear that, Dana?
Jones will look to collect his tenth title defense when he faces Thiago Santos at the upcoming UFC 239 pay-per-view (PPV) event on July 6, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada (staredown here). After that, the pickings will be a bit slim at 205 pounds, which means UFC will have to open up its check books to convince Jon to pack on the pounds.