UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones has successfully defended his belt at 205 pounds on 10 occasions over the course of his career, and he’s favored to beat challenger Dominick Reyes on Saturday night in Houston at UFC 247.
Jones has picked up wins over fight fighters currently ranked in the top nine in his division, and can increase that number by taking out Reyes in the UFC 247 main event. With nothing left to prove at light heavyweight – assuming he doesn’t suffer a stunning loss – Jones says he’d like the chance to move up to heavyweight to fight current champion Stipe Miocic.
In a conversation with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani ahead of UFC 247, Jones says he wouldn’t need a tune-up fight at heavyweight before taking on Miocic, who is currently slated to fight Daniel Cormier at some point to complete their trilogy, according to Dana White.
Helwani: “What are the chances, if all goes well in February, that your next fight is at heavyweight?”
Jones: “There’s a really good chance….. I feel like I really want to fight Stipe Miocic. I feel like I could beat him.”
Helwani: “Next? You don’t want a tune-up, just go straight for the belt?”
Jones: “I don’t think I would need a tune-up. I’m pretty tuned up. I’m pretty in tune. I feel great, I feel strong already. But Stipe’s like what, 230 or something? I feel like me at a lean 230 is plenty. I feel like I could totally beat him, just based on his performances with DC, our speed differences, my fight IQ, my versatility, my faith and confidence. I think I’m the guy to beat him, for sure.”
