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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones is approaching historic heights in his career despite being just 25-years-old, and on Saturday night he can tie Tito Ortiz with the most consecutive defenses of that 205 lb. Championship. Beyond that, he's expressed a desire to make one more title defense to break that record, then try his hand at heavyweight and with superfights outside of title bouts.
That desire has left many thinking it could be a move out of the light heavyweight division for good if he jumps up, but in a chat with fans at ESPN.com on Tuesday, Jones said that would not be the case.
"[A move to heavyweight] definitely wouldn't be permanent," Jones said. "It would just be to prove critics wrong. I would seek an opponent in the Top 10."
That leaves options quite open in the heavyweight field for Jones when he eventually makes a move up, but he did name one particular opponent he'd be highly interested in fighting: UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez.
He's got plenty left in front of him before that fight would come together, but Jones ultimately has just a couple of long term goals for his run in the sport.
"To break many records," he said when asked of those goals. "[And] to be established as the greatest by the time I retire."
Penick's Analysis: He may not be there yet, but he's already well on his way to being one of the best fighters the sport's ever seen. What he's done on a consistent basis already is a testament to that, but he'll need to continue that run of dominance to match what Anderson Silva's done. Not only that, but he'll need to get fights against opponents higher up the ladder than Sonnen again, because he's already gone a year since his last true light heavyweight opponent.
[Jon Jones art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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