After three long years away from the octagon, Jon Jones is back and fighting for a championship once more. This time, he’s aiming to take down Ciryl Gane for his first heavyweight championship belt.
Gane is an athletic freak like Jones. Listed at 6’4’’, 247.5 lbs, and chiseled like a statue, he has only taken one loss in his UFC career. That loss came by decision just over a year ago, in a championship bout against Francis Ngannou in UFC 270. After turning down a contract that would’ve made him the highest paid heavyweight ever, Ngannou was released from the UFC, leaving the door open for Gane to claim the title.
Gane will have to go through another all time great to great there though. Jon Jones is widely considered the GOAT of mixed martial arts, with an undefeated record besides one questionable disqualification early in his career. The only person that has been able to stop Jone’s success has been himself, but Gane looks to be the first legitimate loss on his record.
Jon “Bones” Jones has spent his career commanding the light heavyweight division, but in his time away from the UFC he has been preparing his body to dominate the heavyweight division. He was given the nickname of “Bones” by his high school football coach because of his skinnier frame compared to his NFL defensive end brothers Arthur and Chandler.
Now “Bones” no more, as he weighed in at 248 lbs today. That is a whopping 43 pounds heavier than his last weigh in at 205 lbs, so it will be interesting to see how his movements have changed.
HOW I THINK THE FIGHT WILL GO
I think that this fight truly depends on Jone’s speed and endurance with the weight he’s put on. There are reports that he looks just as fast, but with the added strength of the heavier build, and if that is the case I think Gane is toast. Greg Jackson, who has been in Jones’ corner for most of his career, had high praise for “Bones” in an interview with UFC.com:
“He’s like a grizzly bear,” Jackson said. “His creativity is there. His speed is there. Everything else is there, but now, he’s like a grizzly bear. He feels faster. I’m not sure if that’s accurate or not, but he certainly feels faster. I think he’s improved. He has improved his technique and really has been working out, as well.”
https://www.ufc.com/news/inside-heavyweight-transformation-jon-jones-ufc-285
In another interview with UFC.com, former two division champion Henry Cejudo had this to say:
“He’s just different, man,” Cejudo said. “He’s got light heavyweight speed, heavyweight power, (and) he’s got length. It’s absolutely ridiculous – his ability to be light on his feet and still be tricky.”
https://www.ufc.com/news/inside-heavyweight-transformation-jon-jones-ufc-285
While these reports could be cloaked in heavy bias, it’s hard to bet against Jones. My prediction is that Jones will be the third fighter to ever hold a belt in both the light heavyweight and the heavyweight divisions, unless he gets gassed early. Gane is too good of a striker, and if Jones gasses himself out, it will be lights out for him.
My bet: Jones -170