Michael Jai White breaks down why he thinks Jon Jones will be successful at heavyweight in the UFC.
Actor Michael Jai White knows his way around the fight game. He grew up doing martial arts and has a lot of experience with fighting in both movies, TV, and in real life. He has personal relationships with some UFC fighters, one, in particular, is Jon Jones. Now White is giving his opinion on Jones’ move to heavyweight and how he thinks he will fare in his new weight class.
Jones announced that he had intentions of moving up to the heavyweight division two years ago. He had grown tired of competing in the light heavyweight division and set his sights on the heaviest division in the UFC. He has now taken two years to prepare for this move, putting on weight and making sure everything is right for his debut. Although no fight is set at this moment it seems that his heavyweight debut could be getting closer and might happen in the first quarter of next year.
Michael Jai White thinks Jon Jones will fit in perfectly as a heavyweight
White sat down for an interview with djvlad on YouTube and spoke a bit about his friend Jones and his move to heavyweight
“Jon, I think he runs through that division pretty easily. I mean, his wrestling skill set. I don’t know if there’s many people in the heavyweight ranks that can match that,” White said. “So even he walks around at you know, like me, like 235, that’s already heavyweight. He doesn’t have to cut weight. He should be pretty damn healthy with it. If he wrapped somebody up there. They got problems.”
White believes that not having to cut weight plus the wrestling skills of Jones will be too much for most men at heavyweight. Jones will most likely fight for a title in his first bout in the new division, and right now that title is being held by Francis Ngannou. Ngannou has been known mostly for his striking abilities since coming to the UFC and if White is right and the wrestling skills come into play this could be a great matchup for Jones.
Jones ended his run at 205 pounds with three straight decision victories. He is arguably one of the best MMA fighters to have ever lived, only having lost once in his professional career. Taking the risk of jumping up to heavyweight means he will have the opportunity to solidify his legacy by becoming the “baddest man on the planet” but will also be putting himself in jeopardy facing men that are larger. His friend White believes that he can get it done.
