Reporter Seo Jang-won = Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (35, USA) finished preparations for his heavyweight debut at 248 pounds (about 112.5 kg).
On the 4th (Korean time), Jones passed the weigh-in for the heavyweight title at the ‘UFC 285: Jones vs. Gan’ weigh-in held at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Jones will compete for the vacant heavyweight title with Cyril Gan (32, France), interim UFC heavyweight champion, five days ago.
Jones’ move into the heavyweight division has been discussed for over a decade. He had been virtually undefeated for 15 years at light heavyweight, so he was expected to challenge for a higher weight class, heavyweight.
Jones announced his move to heavyweight division in August 2020, returning the light heavyweight title. He spent the next two and a half years building his body. I gained 10 kg for this match.
Although he fell short of the heavyweight limit of 265 pounds (about 120.2 kg), he built a heavy body even among heavyweights. He weighs more than former UFC heavyweight champion Stefan Miocic (USA), Daniel Cormier (USA) and Fabricio Werdum (Brazil).
The question is whether he will be able to maintain the same physical ability as he did at light heavyweight. Excessive weight gain can lead to a decrease in speed and stamina. But Jones boasted that he combined “light heavyweight speed” with “heavyweight strength.”
After the weigh-in, Jones said, “I am blessed with tremendous talent,” and declared, “Tomorrow I will still be a champion.” He is not currently the official champion, but as he has never lost a belt, he has shown his determination to fight with the mindset of a champion. 메이저사이트
His opponent, Gan, also finished his weigh-in at 247.5 pounds (112.3 kg), a nearly identical weight.
“This fight is like a big bonus to me,” said Gan. “Jones is the greatest fighter in history, so if I win tomorrow, I’ll become the world’s strongest man. That’s also a bonus,” he expressed his anticipation.
Both fighters competing for the co-main event, the women’s flyweight title, also passed the weigh-in.
Champion Valentina Shevchenko (Kyrgyzstan) and Alexa Grasso (Mexico) both weighed in at 124.5 pounds (about 56.5 kg).
“I feel as strong as always and I’m ready to fight,” Shevchenko exclaimed. “Whatever Grasso is good at, I’m more than twice as good at it.”