Jon Jones‘ long-time striking coach Brandon Gibson believes the former light heavyweight king could exploit the heavyweight division.
Okay, I know. Another week, another quote about Jones fighting at heavyweight. At this point, who knows when ‘Bones’ will fight again- it could be early next year or in 2097, or never. No one really knows.
On another level
However, his long-time coach Gibson believes when Jones does return to action, he could shake up the division with his wrestling.
“I think there’s a lot of areas that Jon could exploit at heavyweight,” Gibson told MMA Junkie recently. “He has such a wide arsenal of techniques. He’s so dangerous, but you’re right. There’s a lot of heavyweights that are great boxers, that are great in the clinch, but Jon’s wrestling is on another level.
His ground-and-pound is on another level. His jiu-jitsu is on another level, and then just the full spectrum of his striking arsenal, I think is on another level. So Jon’s gonna bring a lot to the table at heavyweight that I don’t think we’ve ever seen another heavyweight bring.”
Jones has been out of action since February 2020, when he won a very controversial split decision over Dominick Reyes. Later in 2020, he would vacate the title and announce his move to heavyweight, where everyone is still waiting on his debut.
Stay ready
According to Gibson, Jones is just staying ready for when the call comes.
“We’re just staying ready,” Gibson said. “It’s been a long process and I feel very confident with the work he’s done to rebuild his body into a heavyweight, and the work we’ve been doing almost the last, coming up on, three years I’m very proud of. Jon has put in the work. There are no shortcuts in this game, and he’s really continuing to develop all elements of his game, and whether it’s December or whether it’s another date, whether it’s Stipe or Francis or another opponent, we’re just focused on Jon and his growth” h/t MMA Junkie
There were whispers that Jones would make his long-awaited return against Stipe Miocic in December, but that looks like it won’t happen as the days pass. So the MMA world will continue to wait for whenever that time comes.
