Fans have mocked the new heavyweight physique of Jon Jones ahead of his UFC title fight against Ciryl Gane.
Jones, 35, returns to the octagon at UFC 285 on Saturday as he makes his highly-anticipated heavyweight debut against Gane, with the division's title also being on the line. 'Bones' hasn't fought since defending his light-heavyweight title for the final time against Dominick Reyes in February 2020, spending the last three years bulking up in size.
The consensus greatest MMA fighter of all-time posed for physique pictures on Wednesday after speaking to Mirror Fighting and other reporters at the media day to promote his UFC title fight. Fans were less than impressed with Jones' new look, as one user wrote: "He looked slow and old as a light heavyweight and now, three years later, he's just let himself go a bit."
"Heavyweight Jon Jones just looks like regular Jon Jones but in a relationship," a second user wrote. "Just looks like an out-of-shape light-heavyweight Jon Jones," a third added before a fourth wrote: "It's going to be interesting to see how his frame handles all of that extra weight. Fighters change when they start gassing out."
Some fans came to the defence of Jones when users started to mock the size of his legs in the new physique pictures. Standing at 6'4" and weighing at 205lb for most of his career, Jones has always had small legs for a light-heavyweight but fans predict he will "kick like a kangaroo" at heavyweight.
"Guy squats over 600. Genetics are tough. He has freak genes look at his brothers too," one user wrote. "Leg genetics are a b****. He's strong as an Ox and kicks like a kangaroo. Don’t be fooled. Had the issue before he moved up the weight, Joe Rogan been talking about it for years now," a second wrote.
What are your thoughts on the physique of Jon Jones ahead of his heavyweight debut? Let us know in the comments section below
Jones trained with former bodybuilders and NFL strength and conditioning coaches to prepare for his heavyweight debut. The UFC legend ate 4500 calories a day, with his diet consisting of several protein shakes and rice and eggs for breakfast. Jones focused a lot on weightlifting during his training camp with his bench press flying up to 520lb and deadlift increasing to 600lb.
"I do not deny that my physical fitness right now is better than ever. Towards the end of my training camp, I wasn't lifting for big numbers but just for explosiveness and muscular endurance, but I've got pretty strong over the last couple of years," Jones said.
