Derrick Lewis says Jon Jones will do just fine as a UFC heavyweight.
Jones (25-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC), the consensus greatest light heavyweight of all time, recently relinquished his title and is planning to move up a weight class after dominating at 205 pounds.
Lewis (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) doesn’t have anything bad to say about Jones and thinks he’ll adjust to facing larger opposition at heavyweight with no issues.
“I believe Jones will do great at heavyweight,” Lewis said during Wednesday’s virtual media day. “He walks around heavy. He’s been the champion for 205 for many years. He’s proven he’s a winner. He walks around (at) heavyweight. All he has to do is stay around and he’ll be pretty good.”
And, if the stars align, Lewis said he would happily fight him, but explained that he won’t necessarily be chasing a matchup with “Bones.”
“I don’t care what he does,” said Lewis. “It doesn’t matter, I don’t have nothing against him. If the UFC came to me with a contract, and it looks good, I’ll fight him. But otherwise I don’t have any animosity against the guy.”
For now, Lewis is looking to earn another crack at the title when he faces Curtis Blaydes in the UFC on ESPN 18 main event, which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+.
Derrick Lewis thinks Jon Jones will excel at heavyweight: ‘He’s proven he’s a winner’
