Jon Jones is seemingly in peak condition as the UFC legend claims he's "knocked out" training partners ahead of his heavyweight debut.
Jones, 35, returns after a three-year absence on Saturday as he faces Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title at UFC 285 in Las Vegas. The consensus greatest fighter of all-time first discussed a move up to heavyweight over a decade ago, but has spent three years dedicating his bulk up to the weight class since his last fight against Dominick Reyes in February 2020.
Fans are worried about how Jones will perform in his heavyweight debut against Game with some even labelling him as "out of shape" after his bulked-up physique was revealed in a recent photoshoot. Jones has insisted that he feels great and has even knocked out some of his training partners during his preparations for the title fight.
"I feel like I'm performing really well. I've had some close knockouts this camp, knocking out other people," Jones told reporters including Mirror Fighting. "That's something that never happened in past camps. When I decide that I went to get guys down to the ground, they go down. I have pretty much a 100 per cent takedown rate in training right now.
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"I feel like I move really well, I have great pride in my endurance as I do a lot of endurance training. I feel like a stronger version of myself, I'm not super lean and don't have a mean six-pack like I used to. Back in the day I would judge my fitness levels by the way I looked like, but looking in the mirror I'm a heavyweight now."
Jones will become one of the few two-weight champions in UFC history with a win against Gane, who has previously held the interim heavyweight title. 'Bones' isn't buying comments his opponent made about "not training" before their title fight was announced as he added: "I won't be lulled to sleep by him like 'I'm happy to be here, life goes on if I win or lose.'
"I feel like I fight for something a little bit different, there is a dog inside of me," Jones added. "I don't feel like that's something that your coach should have to teach you, being a dog or not. I have a lion in me, a vicious warrior inside of me. It's who I am and losing is not an option, this is my life and my legacy. My reasons why are really big, I don't know if his seriousness matches mine.
"It's hard to say whether he is the toughest challenge of my career or not. I'm ready for whatever, I'm ready to dominate but if I don't dominate and the fight goes five rounds then I am ready for a dogfight and to bleed. I'm ready to sweat and leave my heart out there however it goes, I'm pretty prepared for victory."
