UFC interim light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones has backed off on his earlier plan to move up to heavyweight later in his career.
Not so long ago the 28 year-old had suggested that it was almost certain that he’d move up a weight class within the next couple of years, but in a new interview with MMAjunkie he appears to have had a change of heart.
“To be honest with you, heavyweight really doesn’t really seem as appealing to me as it once did,” Jones said. “I’m almost 30 now, and I’m not really having any more growth spurts. This is pretty much the size I’m going to be, and it’s so easy for me to make light heavyweight.
“As I get older, and as I mature and take things more seriously – you know, diet and everything – it’s become easier for me to maintain, and I’ve never missed weight.”
So, Jones appears to be happy just focusing on the division that he once ruled, and long with his upcoming UFC 200 headliner against Daniel Cormier to unify the 205lb title, he also still has future fights with Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson in mind too.
“I would love to rematch Gustafsson at some point,” Jones said. “Anthony Johnson is obviously a fight that I need to get out of the way. Beating Daniel Cormier again is huge for my legacy. But really, just those three names, Cormier, Gustafsson and Johnson, are the guys I want to fight again the most, and that’s it. That’s as far as my eyes can see right now.”
