Jon Jones has visibly bulked up since being reinstated by the UFC, and he has been showing this off via his Instagram account.
It remains to be seen if his new bulges will stop there or grow even more, which could pose problems for reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.
Jones and Cormier are expected to have their much-awaited rematch soon, and word has it that this would probably happen at UFC 198, which will be held on April 23, 2016, as reported through Fox Sports in November.
The fight was originally set for the Madison Square Garden, but this remains tentative until the UFC is able to get the fight sanctioned. Apparently, mixed martial arts is not sanctioned in New York, and if nothing is settled close to that date, there could be a change in venue.
Regardless, both are expected to meet. Jones wants to fight again and of course reclaim the belt that was stripped from him following the celebrated April hit-and-run incident.
On the other side, Cormier wants payback on Bones for inflicting the sole loss of his UFC reign in early January.
However, the odds may not be stacked up further on the person who has been keeping himself in shape and who has visibly bulked up.
“I don’t know if you follow him on Instagram, but he’s been at the gym. You won’t believe him when you see him. He has completely transformed. This guy is jacked. He’s been lifting, like powerlifting. He’s huge right now,” says UFC president Dana White via MMAFighting.com
Speaking of size, White also revealed that Jones does have plans to move up to heavyweight, and such could be the reason for the added muscle that Bones has been showing off. Based on Jones’ fight with Ariel Helwani, it seems that he is ready to move up with the heavyweights.
"I'm totally comfortable going rounds with big guys, and now that I have the strength of a heavyweight, my confidence is through the roof," Jones was quoted saying in that interview.
Despite the buffed build, Jones is still considered a light heavyweight, meaning that his tiff with Cormier will push through as planned. Will the size disparity be a problem for Cormier?
Cormier last took the Octagon in October, winning via split decision over Alexander Gustaffson, as reported by MMAFighting.com.
DC admitted that Gustaffson took him to the limit, which begs the question if he can do the same against the very same man who dealt him his first UFC defeat in January.