Jon Jones has posted a telling weight update as his UFC 309 main event clash with Stipe Miocic nears.
‘Bones’ says he is feeling ‘fast and strong’ and that he ‘feels like a light heavyweight’ with just over two weeks until his next fight.
Jones faces Miocic on November 17 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, in a highly anticipated, yet somewhat controversial heavyweight clash.
Charles Oliveira challenges Michael Chandler in a five-round co-main event on the same card at UFC 309.
UFC heavyweight champion Jones has only made one octagon appearance in the last four years, submitting Ciryl Gane in March 2023 to claim the belt for the first time.
He dominated the 205 pound division for over 10 years, defending the light heavyweight belt on a remarkable 14 occasions, before making the move up to heavyweight.
The 37-year-old holds the record for the most title fight wins in UFC history with 15, ahead of MMA icons such as Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson and Anderson Silva.
He also became the UFC’s youngest-ever UFC champion at 23 years old when he knocked out Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua at UFC 128 in 2011.
Jones made his UFC return in March 2023 after a three-year hiatus and submitted Gane just two minutes into the first round in what was his first fight as a heavyweight.
“240lbs, fast and strong. I used to walk around at 235lbs as a light heavyweight,” Jones said on Instagram.
“This almost feels like a light heavyweight fight without the weight cut.”
Jones also shared numerous videos of his various training techniques in the update as he prepares to take on MMA veteran Miocic.
Fighters normally feel more confident heading into a bout after a smooth weight cut, and it is only an added bonus for the two-division champion that he doesn’t have to go through a major one.
Miocic, 42, hasn’t fought in the UFC since his knockout defeat to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260, but has equal experience to his opponent in the octagon.
He made his UFC debut in October 2011 and won the heavyweight strap for the first time by overcoming Fabricio Werdum at UFC 198 five years later.
Miocic dropped the belt to UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, who he then beat in a rematch and trilogy bout, before losing to Ngannou.
Tom Aspinall is the official backup fighter for the main event clash in November, should either Jones or Miocic have to pull out.
Ultimately, as the UFC’s interim heavyweight champion, it should be Britain’s Aspinall fighting Jones for the belt, but it is believed the latter wanted to fight Miocic out of respect for the Ohio native.
Aspinall revealed in October that he believes Miocic has the ability to KO Jones, due to his ‘big knockout power’ in comparison to the champ.
Jones’ update could frighten any future opponent and MMA fans, as well as a former UFC star reacted to the post.
Former UFC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg hyped Jones up, while another said: “Stipe, [Alex] Pereira and Frances [Ngannou], submit them all and then retire! Nothing else you need!”
Rumours have circulated in the MMA world that Jones and Miocic may retire after their bout, which has left Aspinall anxious as to whether he can cement himself as one of the UFC’s greatest by upsetting the champion.
UFC 309 takes place on November 17 with Scotland’s Paul Craig also featuring as he challenges hot prospect Bo Nickal the middleweight division.
