LAS VEGAS — Manager Abraham Kawa doesn’t think there’s much need for his most famous MMA client, [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag], to move up to heavyweight.
The current UFC light heavyweight champion, Jones (25-1 MMA, 19-1 UFC) is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all-time, and was recently named MMA Junkie’s No. 1 fighter of the decade.
He has ran through competition, taking out one hungry contender after the other, to the degree many believe he should move up to heavyweight.
But Kawa thinks Jones should only move up to heavyweight for a fight if the money is right.
“Jon’s comfortable at light heavyweight,” Kawa told MMA Junkie on Thursday during the launch party for Jorge Masvidal’s new El Recuerdo mezcal. “He has no reason to go up to heavyweight unless it makes financial sense for him. He’s already proved that he’s the best fighter that we’ve ever seen. He’s already proved that he’s the GOAT. In my opinion, he’s the GOAT.”
Jones takes on undefeated Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 on Feb. 8.
Current UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic is currently sidelined due to injury and on track to return in the summer, when he’s expected to complete his trilogy with former UFC dual-champ, Daniel Cormier.
So with both of the biggest-money potential heavyweight fighters expected to square off with one another, Kawa doesn’t see much urgency in a Jones move to 265.
“I don’t know if he goes to heavyweight,” Kawa said. “If the challenge is there and the challenge makes financial sense, he may or may not do it, it’s really up to him so that’s a question for Jon, but it won’t be a question that I believe he would answer today.”
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In a recent interview with Canadian outlet TSN, UFC president Dana White was asked what he foresees for 2020, and when asked about a potential Brock Lesnar return this year, White said he likes the odds of that happening.
Kawa, for his part, thinks it would take a fight of Lesnar’s star power for Jones to make the move up.
“Everyone is dying to see Jon jump to heavyweight, well ok, there’s your jump to heavyweight. Give him the big, scary monster that is Brock Lesnar and we could go from there.”
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