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Jonny Bones Jones reveals heavyweight ambitions

ESPN staff
July 19, 2010
Jon Jones's elbows from guard are dangerous © Getty Images
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Jon Jones has only dipped his toe into the shark-infested waters of the UFC light-heavyweight division, but he is already talking about a future step up to the heavyweight realm.

Jones is without doubt the hottest young talent on the UFC's books, boasting a flashy Greco Roman wrestling style and hugely unorthodox Muay Thai Skills. Evidence seen in fights against Matt Hamill and Brandon Vera also suggests Jones has some of the most nasty ground-and-pound in MMA.

The UFC plans to nurture the American 23-year-old slowly, testing him against the wily Vladimir Matyushenko in his next bout, but Jones is already planning his future. Citing Randy Couture as his role model, Jones wants to switch between light-heavyweight and heavyweight to take on all-comers.

"I feel as though I'm growing into more of an adult body, who knows what the future holds for me," Jones told ESPN's 'MMA Live' show. "This training camp has been really tough for me. I actually got up to about 231 (pounds) for the first time and I'm 23.

"I'm always training hard and I'm going to focus on certain weightlifting more in my off time. So you heavyweights gotta watch out because you never know what's going to happen.

"Our weight class is stacked and there's lots of competition at the 205 division, but there's also lots of competition at the heavyweight division. I'm always looking for a challenge. Randy Couture does it, moving up and down in weight classes and it's not something I'd be opposed to."

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