Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones is challenging the current champion in Daniel Cormier for the gold at UFC 214.
When the former champion steps back into the Octagon, the fighter's longtime coach in Mike Winklejohn expects a meaner version of Jones to be facing DC.
“Everything is good,” Winkeljohn said on The MMA Hour. “[Jones]’s coming in with a smile on his face. I’m going to tell you what, Jon’s coming in and he’s finding new ways to hit people with elbows. He keeps bringing them real close to people’s faces and then just stopping with a smile, and continuing on with the process. So he’s got some new things that are even meaner for Daniel this fight.”
Jones hasn’t competed since UFC 197, where he defeated Ovince St. Preux by decision to win the UFC Interim Light Heavyweight Title.
The former champion has a vastly detailed past with illegal substances, but Coach Winklejohn believes that the problems are a thing of the past for Jones.
“I know I’ve had that talk with him, and I’m sure all these coaches had that talk with him — or at least I hope they would’ve,” he said. “But, he’s on the straight and narrow. I would say Jon Jones, nobody beats Jon Jones but himself. And he’s been focused in training camp and through last week on the right things. So with that being said, should be a great fight for Jon.”
UFC 214 takes place on Saturday, July 29 from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California with Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
