Jon Jones clarifies whether pay issues with UFC caused delay in heavyweight debut

Jon Jones is set to make his highly-anticipated heavyweight debut at UFC 285 this weekend after a three-year hiatus from mixed martial arts. 'Bones' recently opened up about the delays that occurred prior to his octagon return.

Speaking to ESPN MMA ahead of UFC 285, the No.10-ranked pound-for-pound fighter stated that money was not what caused the delay in him making his return:

"The prolonging of my heavyweight debut had nothing to do with money or being upset with the UFC or anything like that. I just wanted to be at my best when I did come back. I felt like I was ready to go about a year ago. We needed to figure out opponents and there was just a lot of moving parts in the UFC, but now we're here. We got Ciryl Gane, and I feel like all the stars are just aligned for me right now."

Jon Jones added:

"I started thinking about it the day that I decided that I was going to go up to heavyweight. My goal for three years now is to become the heavyweight champion of the world. It's what I pray about, it's what I sleep on, it's what I dream about. It is who I am and I will get it done... I just feel it in my whole being that I'm the best fighter on the planet."

'Bones' added that he knew he would become the heavyweight champion while watching the UFC 270 title fight between then-champion Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane, who Jones will face at UFC 285 this weekend. If he is able to defeat Gane, the longtime light heavyweight champion will become the eighth multi-division champion in UFC history.

Watch Jon Jones discuss his heavyweight debut below (starting at the 1:39 mark):

---

Jon Jones questions Ciryl Gane's long-term impact

Jon Jones has solidified his place among the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. During the first episode of the UFC 285 Embedded: Vlog Series, 'Bones' shared that he is still looking to build his legacy while questioning his opponent's mentality:

"Your name having meaning 50 years from now, that's winning to me. That's why I'm going after this heavyweight championship. I could have walked away with my titles, sailed off into the sunset. I'm not going to lose all these years to a guy who is just here right now. That's the way I view him. He's just here right now. His words let me know that he doesn't believe he'll be here for a long time and I'm not losing to a guy like that."

Gane previously shared that he doesn't train unless he has a fight scheduled. Jones, on the other hand, appears determined to continue to add to his already impressive resume.

Watch Jon Jones' comments on Ciryl Gane below (starting at the 8:56 mark):