Jon Jones’ skill set at all-time high as a UFC heavyweight

Brandon Gibson is assured Jon Jones’ transfer as much as heavyweight will likely be very profitable.

After conquering the UFC’s gentle heavyweight division for a decade, Jones determined to relinquish his title and set out for a brand new problem. Since August 2020, Jones has been gearing up for his heavyweight debut, and his longtime hanging coach Gibson is raving about Jones’ transformation.

“Consider me, Jon is hitting arduous, and he’s so expert proper now,” Gibson advised Submission Radio. “His ability set’s at an all-time excessive, and he has a lot energy and athleticism and stamina on prime of all of it. I feel the followers are going to be actually, actually shocked and stunned once they see him at heavyweight.”

Gibson says Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) has placed on a number of weight and ranked him above some legendary heavyweights he’s had the honour to coach.

“You consider fighters going up in a weight class, they usually at all times placed on dimension and mass and energy,” Gibson mentioned. “You look your Conor (McGregor) from his 145 days, going as much as light-weight, going as much as welterweight. And that’s a 25-pound distinction. Jon Jones, his weight is up there proper now, and it’s far more than 25 kilos.

“So, he’s hitting extraordinarily arduous and intensely correct and technical, and quick. I’ve educated a number of wonderful heavyweights. I educated (Andrei) Arlovski and (Alistair) Overeem and Frank Mir and Travis Browne, and Jon Jones is extra highly effective, explosive, artistic, dynamic than all of them. So I can’t wait to see Jon make that stroll at heavyweight. It’s going to be one thing really, really particular, and I’m humbled to be part of it.”

Jones was most just lately seen in motion in February 2020 when he edged out Dominick Reyes to retain his gentle heavyweight title at UFC 247. “Bones” has been linked to matchups with former champ Stipe Miocic and reigning heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou for his return, and Gibson sees them each as winnable fights.

“Stipe’s the best UFC champion in heavyweight historical past,” Gibson mentioned. “(He’s) very well-rounded, championship expertise. He’s proven a lot resilience within the trilogy with (Daniel Cormier) and his skill to come back again. And Stipe has a victory over Francis, as properly. He’s an awesome, well-rounded martial artist who’s highly effective, who has devastating knockout energy in each arms. After which Francis simply has that X-factor – his dimension, his energy, and he can sleep anyone, from any stance, from any angle. He doesn’t have to be balanced or be punching off his again foot. It doesn’t matter.

“So that they each have their challenges and their very own distinctive methods, and we’re going to should take every of them very in another way – very in another way. However Jon Jones has the ability set to get his hand raised in each of these bouts. There’s little question in my thoughts about it. There’s no person like Jon Jones at heavyweight. There’s nobody as quick, as gifted in all of the disciplines like Jon is. And his IQ is off the chart. To not say that these different guys aren’t good, sensible fighters, however Jon Jones’ IQ and comprehension of his sport is not like anyone else’s on this planet.”