UFC champ Jon Jones' eventual move to heavyweight 'not going to be that fun'

Cat--Smasher · 04-22-2012, 10:34 AM

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UFC president Dana White warns that a move to heavyweight shouldn't come anytime soon.

Jones used his ridiculous reach and inventive striking to post a lopsided unanimous-decision victory over Evans in Saturday's pay-per-view headliner. Evans was clearly the No. 1 contender, and many felt he had the best chance at upsetting the titleholder. But Jones simply operated on a different level.

But White said Jones still has work to do at 205 pounds. For example, he already announced that Jones will meet veteran Dan Henderson later this year in the champ's next title defense.

"Jon Jones is a physical specimen," White said. "The guy is huge at 205 pounds. He's out there doing things, and not only is he a big guy, he's super athletic. He was throwing elbows like they were hands tonight.

"But he needs to stay at 205. He can make 205. This is where he needs to stay. Once he cleans out a division and [expletive] starts getting a little old and stale, then maybe he makes that move to heavyweight."

Henderson, 42, has extended his career in large part due to his adaptability. In recent years, he's competed at middleweight, light heavyweight, and even heavyweight (for a bout with famed Russian Fedor Emelianenko). But the moves were born more out of necessity as Henderson attempted to secure big fights with Strikeforce and now for a title fight in the UFC.

Jones, though, has the luxury of staying put. And according to White, it's a luxury he should enjoy while he can. After all, the heavyweight division is a different animal altogether.

"You move up to heavyweight, and you've got [expletive] Junior Dos Santos up there," White said of the division's current champ. "Dude's got bombs in his hands. ... You've got some big serious dudes at heavyweights. It's a big jump.

"It's not going to be that fun at heavyweight."

Besides, White said, Jones eventually will be forced to move to heavyweight anyway. He's seen it before with young stars. Eventually, the weight cut will be too demanding, and his body will force him up a weight class.

"The guy eventually is going to naturally have to go to heavyweight because he's so big," White said. "He's 24 years old, and as he gets older, it's going to be harder to cut that weight. It's going to be harder to stay as lean as he is, and it'll just naturally happen.

"If I was him, and I'm not his coach or advisor or anything else, I'd wait until that naturally happens. Get a lot of experience at 205 before you go up there to heavyweight."

UFC champ Jon Jones' eventual move to heavyweight 'not going to be that fun' | MMAjunkie.com

CapCee · 04-22-2012, 11:07 AM

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Once he cleans out a division and [expletive] starts getting a little old and stale, then maybe he makes that move to heavyweight

Once he cleans out the division? As in, after his next fight?

Y2JUBAE · 04-22-2012, 11:19 AM

Dana knows that Jones won't do as well at HW.

Eric T Smith · 04-22-2012, 11:20 AM

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Originally Posted by CapCee

Once he cleans out the division? As in, after his next fight?

Unless Gustaffson's next fight is a very decisive win over a top talent(Shogun, Machida, Evans, etc.)

CapCee · 04-22-2012, 11:35 AM

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Originally Posted by Eric T Smith

Unless Gustaffson's next fight is a very decisive win over a top talent(Shogun, Machida, Evans, etc.)

I think that's what they're banking on. And no matter how good or bad he looks, Goldberg and Florian/Rogan will announce him into the top contender spot.

JayBird · 04-22-2012, 11:39 AM

After Hendo and Gustafson, who is left for him to fight?? Maybe a rematch against Shogun? If he dominates a few more fights at 205, he will have to move up to HW. There will simply not be anybody left for him to destroy at 205. At heavyweight there are several fighters who can give him a challenge.

Pasha K · 04-22-2012, 01:33 PM

He would beat some HW fighters but I think he would lose to any Top 5 HW fighter.

And yes, after beating Hendo he will have no one else to beat. Maybe Gustafsson if he continues winning but at this point Gus does not look like a dangerous threat to Jones.

SOOFNUN · 04-22-2012, 01:57 PM

I see Dana and the UFC hyping the LHW for a while to come. Hendo is next, then maybe Gustafsson, then a rematch or two depending on who is winning (shogun/machida/rashad) or someone like Phil Davis gets on a streak and is crowned as the new most dangerous opponent, and on and on.

Point being I see the ufc wanting to keep Jones at 205 for a while still and maintain his invincible image as long as possible, because currently doesn't appear to be too many threats there.