Jon Jones has had enough of people claiming he’s ducking the likes of Dominick Reyes or Jan Blachowicz by moving up to heavyweight.
Earlier this week, Jon Jones announced that he would be vacating the UFC light heavyweight championship. “Bones” has dominated the division for the past several years, and is now ready to make the highly-anticipated jump up to heavyweight in search of a second division title. However, Jones’ announcement was met with some criticism from fans and 205-pound contenders alike. Many suggest his move is in an attempt to avoid fights with the likes of Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz.
Jones bested Reyes this past February in a highly controversial decision win in Texas. Blachowicz appeared to be the next man in line for a title shot, but with Jones now moving to heavyweight, he’ll instead face Reyes for the vacant belt in September. Taking to Twitter, Jones decided to send a message to those who think he’s avoiding fights with Reyes and Blachowicz by moving up a weight class.
I literally had to leave it all out there the night I beat Gus, my last fight I ended comfortably scoring points. Gus pushed me to a place I have still yet to see again
— BONY (@JonnyBones) August 20, 2020
Both DC and Gus faced fatalities in our rematches, now for the first time in my career I’m terrified to have a rematch? If you believe this narrative, slap yourself
— BONY (@JonnyBones) August 20, 2020
Jan from Poland < Diving headfirst into the unknown.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) August 20, 2020
Jan found my weakness, he threatened to fist me and I threw in the white towel 😂
— BONY (@JonnyBones) August 20, 2020
Reyes isn’t buying it, however, as he had the following to say during a recent interview with ESPN.
“I think his ego won’t let him admit that I’m the reason [he moved up],” Reyes said. “I know he doesn’t want to rematch me. He gave up the belt. You don’t give up something you’re proud of. … You earned that s—. Why would you just give it up unless you felt like you didn’t earn it?”
Reyes and Blachowicz will meet in the co-main event of UFC 253 on pay-per-view (PPV) for the vacant light heavyweight throne on September 26. As for Jones, negotiations appear to be underway for his heavyweight debut, but as for who he’ll be fighting, that remains to be seen.
