by Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is days away from making his heavyweight debut at UFC 285, but you don’t have to wait until Saturday to see what he’s going to look like in the cage.
Competing with the big boys at heavyweight meant Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) had to pack some pounds on his 6-foot-4 frame, and he’s spent the past three years adding bulk as he maintained athletic ability. During UFC 285 media day on Wednesday, Jones spoke about the changes in his physique and how he expects to perform in the cage against Ciryl Gane (11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) for the vacant main event heavyweight title at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas.
“Honestly, I feel like a stronger version of myself,” Jones told reporters. “I’m not super slim. I don’t have a mean six pack like I used to. I had to get used to that, you know what I mean? I used to judge my fitness by the way I looked in the mirror.
“I am now a heavyweight. It’s not about what you look like. It’s about how you perform. I feel like I’m performing really well. … I feel very good. I like it. I can eat whatever I want, feel good. Life is good.”
Images from the UFC 285 pre-fight photo shoot are now available, and you can get a first glimpse of Jones’ heavyweight frame in the Venum UFC fight kit. Check out Jones’ new physique below (via Getty Images):
Embed from Getty Images
For comparison to Jones’ light-heavyweight frame, check out these images ahead of his final appearance at UFC 247 in February 2020:
Embed from Getty Images
At UFC 247, Jones weighed just under the light heavyweight championship for his title defense against Dominick Reyes, weighing in at 204 pounds.
It remains to be seen what he will tip the scales at Friday morning’s official weigh-ins, but the photos clearly show that he is nowhere near the light heavyweight limit these days.
For more information on the card, visit the MMA Junkie events hub for UFC 285.
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Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie
