BIG BONES
UFC star Jon Jones shows off incredible body transformation as he packs on extra 30lbs for heavyweight debut
UFC superstar Jon Jones has certainly put on the beef ahead of his long-awaited move up to heavyweight.
The former long-reigning light-heavyweight king has been hitting the weights hard for the best part of a year in a bid to add on the pounds.
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And his once lean frame has certainly reaped the rewards of all the hours spent pumping iron.
Pound-for-pound king Jones, 35, is now a whopping 255lbs (18 stone, 2lbs after his body transformation in 2021.
Bones' new walk-around weight is a staggering 32.5lbs (two stone, 3lbs) heavier than his normal pre-fight weight.
The New York native's physique is no longer as lean and defined as it once was.
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But he won't be fussed about that as he bids to tangle with the behemoths in the UFC's super-stacked heavyweight division.
Jones said of his bulk: "It feels good to not be depriving myself of food anymore, can't fit any of my suits but I'm moving well."
Jones, who is considered by many to be the greatest fighter of all time, hasn't set foot inside the octagon since beating Dominick Reyes in February 2020.
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The JacksonWink standout's hiatus from the cage has in part been down to an ongoing pay row with the UFC brass and president Dana White.
Jones wants to be financially compensated for his eagerly-anticipated move up in weight but has yet to agree on a suitable number with the promotion.
And he believes he deserves upwards of £7.25million ($10m) for a super-fight with newly-crowned heavyweight king Francis Ngannou.
In May2021, he tweeted: "I had a brief phone meeting with UFC‘s lawyer Hunter a few days ago.
"As of right now I expressed to him that anywhere around eight to $10 million would be way too low for a fight of this magnitude. That’s all that has been discussed so far.
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"I believe I was grossly underpaid throughout my entire 20s. I’m not even here bitching about that. I just want to see the future done right."
Jones is determined to be paid what he feels he's worth, so much so he's ready to sit on the sidelines until a deal is done.
He tweeted: “Honestly, I feel like the only people that it benefits me jumping in their early are the other heavyweights.
“The way I’m training, I’m gonna be a real problem this time next year. I’m comfortable enough to wait and that’s exactly what I’ll do.”
When asked by a fan if that statement would mean another year out of the cage, he said: "Yes.
"I got a feeling you guys will still be around.
“The sport should be bigger than ever by then. Always looking on the bright side.”
And when he does finally get a fight sorted, his coach Brandon Gibson reckons Jones has all the weapons to excel at heavyweight.
He told MMA Junkie: "I think there’s a lot of areas that Jon could exploit at heavyweight.
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"He has such a wide arsenal of techniques. He’s so dangerous.
"There’s a lot of heavyweights that are great boxers, that are great in the clinch, but Jon’s wrestling is on another level."
UFC star Jon Jones shows his punching power in gym workout
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