Jon Jones is finally ready to make his heavyweight debut, and the reception to the news from fight fans is evidence of how much the two-time light heavyweight champion has been missed.
Jones is all geared up to face former UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, as confirmed by Dana White during the UFC Vegas 67 post-fight press conference.
In recent times, Jon Jones has developed an affiliation with Henry Cejudo in his pursuit to attain the distinct status of being called a two-division champion. According to oddsmakers, 'Bones' faces a daunting challenge against heavyweight division elite Ciryl Gane, who has emerged as the favorite (Jon Jones +160/ underdog, Ciryl Gane -185/ favorite).
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Jones may be training with former simultaneous two-division champion Henry Cejudo in the hopes that his experience competing in a different weight division will rub off on him. However, top-ranked bantamweight challenger Sean O'Malley, who has had his share of encounters with Cejudo in the past, disagrees. O'Malley wrote on Twitter:
"Henry brought in Jon Jones to prepare for me. Smart but won’t help."
Now that the 135-pound champion, Aljamain Sterling, has declared that he will need time to properly rehabilitate a long-standing bicep issue, a bout between O'Malley and Cejudo appears imminent. 'Sugar' has recently challenged Cejudo, stating that he is willing to square off against 'Triple C' in the meantime while Sterling recovers.
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Watch: Jon Jones and Henry Cejudo train together in Phoenix
Jon Jones is unquestionably one of the greatest MMA fighters ever to grace the octagon, and the respect he commands from his peers is unrivaled. The fight community as a whole is excited for his return to face Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.
Henry Cejudo recently posted a video of a training session with the youngest UFC champion in history in preparation for his heavyweight title fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 on March 4.
Previewing the session, Cejudo stated:
"About to work with the GOAT, Jones. He's coming out to work out with me for a good four days.... I'm just going to get some work done. I'm going to adjust him. He's come out [to train with me] a few times already. This is the fourth time he's coming out... so I want to see what he's done and adjust him as much as I possibly can."
The pair discussed Cejudo's list of the greatest MMA fighters of all time while also chewing over why wrestling is the best foundation to have in the sport.
Watch the full video below: