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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has often discussed his desire to eventually move to the heavyweight division, and on Friday he said that move could come earlier than most expect.
"I think heavyweight is going to come along around 2014 – maybe even late this year," Jones said on Friday during a fan Q&A in Chicago prior to the UFC on Fox 6 weigh-ins (via by MMAJunkie.com). "Who knows. It'll definitely be a fight for the fans."
However, while Jones is eager to test himself against several fighters in the weight class above him, there's one heavyweight he only wants to fight at 205 lbs.
"[Daniel Cormier] is going to have to come and get me," Jones said of the Strikeforce Heavyweight World Grand Prix winner, who has called him out multiple times in the last several months.. "He talked all that trash – I'm going to make him cut that weight."
Jones admits that one issue with a move to heavyweight is the size difference he'll face against some opponents with the weight limit going to 265 lbs., but it's a challenge he wants to face.
"I would love to face [Alistair Overeem]," he said. "I would fight anybody, any time. I'm just a lot smaller than those guys [at heavyweight]. I know that it would be a major challenge to fight one of those guys being the size I am right now."
Penick's Analysis: Jones still has probably three fights at least after Chael Sonnen in the light heavyweight division, with potentially Dan Henderson, Daniel Cormier, and one or two of the rising contenders in Glover Teixeira, Alexander Gustafsson, and now Gegard Mousasi if he gets past Gustafsson. Because of that, I think late 2014 at the earliest is more likely for Jones to move up. Add in the fact that it's still possible a fight with Anderson Silva comes to fruition, and that move could be delayed. He doesn't have to move up yet, he's still able to make the light heavyweight limit without any trouble. It might be a necessity down the line if he packs on more muscle on his frame, but he's not there yet, and though he wants to challenge himself, it's not something that has to be rushed. I honestly don't think it happens this year, and I'd be surprised if it happens earlier than the second half of 2014.
[Jon Jones art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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