Inside Jon Jones’ wild transformation that saw him become two-division UFC champ

Jon Jones made his return to the UFC this year after three years out and he came back with a significantly bigger physique.

The former two-time light-heavyweight champion of the promotion is widely regarded as the greatest MMA fighter of all time but his story is far from finished.

After relinquishing his title in 2020, the 36-year-old sat out on the sidelines for three years as he was embroiled in a battle with UFC president Dana White regarding a rise in pay.

During his hiatus, Jones revealed his eventual return will see him move up to the heavyweight division, a move that fans have been wanting for years due to his overwhelming dominance at light-heavyweight.

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Footage of the fighter's bulking up was far and few between as Jones did not regularly post on social media, leaving fans in the dark on just how big he was going to get.

However, time finally came for Jones to return to the octagon and he did so against Ciryl Gane in March in a bout for the vacant UFC heavyweight title.

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Jones, who used to weigh in at 205lbs at light-heavyweight now showed off the extra 43lbs he put on during weigh-in day, just one night before his title bout.

The broader shoulders, increased mass around his torso and larger thighs of Jones' body were some of the noticeable changes from his usual slender build.

When speaking of the bulk he'd undergone, Jones revealed: "It feels good to not be depriving myself of food anymore, can't fit any of my suits but I'm moving well."

The increased mass certainly helped the New York native as he handily dispatched of Gane in the first-round of their bout at UFC 285 to become a two-division champion.

Before the fight, his coach, Brandon Gibson, spoke of just how "dangerous" he could be at the new weight class, paying tribute to Jones' wrestling which he said "is on another level".

He told MMA Junkie: "I think there’s a lot of areas that Jon could exploit at heavyweight. He has such a wide arsenal of techniques. He’s so dangerous.

"There’s a lot of heavyweights that are great boxers, that are great in the clinch, but Jon’s wrestling is on another level."

Jones returns to action on November 11 at UFC 295, where he defends his title against Stipe Miocic, the former two-time UFC heavyweight champion.

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