Jon Jones warned Stipe Miocic is a ‘different beast’ after secret body transformation ahead of UFC return
JON JONES will face a "different beast" in Stipe Miocic if he fights the former heavyweight champion in his octagon return.
The former long-reigning light-heavyweight king looks set to return to UFC later this year after over two years on the sidelines.
After undergoing a drastic body transformation to bulk up to heavyweight, Jones has set his sights on a showdown with former champ Miocic.
But Miocic himself has secretly been putting on the beef in preparation for the potential bout.
Ex-UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman told The Schmo: “I see Jon Jones really working to gain size and Stipe was smaller.
“I’ve trained with Stipe, he’s one of my boys, I was hanging out with him last night.
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"Bro, he got big and he’s been doing it quietly. He’s like a solid 250 right now.
"Solid, 250, and whenever he decides to come back, he’s a problem."
Jones, 34, is relishing the prospect of testing himself against the most accomplished heavyweight in UFC history.
And Weidman believes the Miocic he'll encounter will be significantly different to the man who was dethroned by Francis Ngannou last March.
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He said: “I don’t think Jon Jones wants that fight. If he thinks he’s gonna be going against a 225-pound Stipe, he’s wrong.
"He’s got a big strong boy that won’t stop coming forward and believes in himself and very well-rounded.
"He’s a different beast right now, I’m telling you.”
Jones hasn't set foot inside the octagon since his final and controversial defence of the 205lb strap against Dominick Reyes in February 2020.
Bones' hiatus has in part been down to a very public contract dispute with the UFC brass.
But SunSport revealed in January that negotiations between the two parties had resumed.
The former champ's advisor Richard Schaefer said: "He is willing, ready and able to fight whoever we can get for the heavyweight title."
And UFC president Dana White recently echoed the former Golden Boy Promotions chief's statement.
White told Jim Rome: "Jon Jones is ready to go. We’re just waiting for an opponent.
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"It’s either going to be Francis [Ngannou] depending on how long his knee is going to take to recover or Stipe Miocic."
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