Jon Jones Watches Randy Couture In Contemplating UFC Heavyweight Fights

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Jon Jones is a rising star in the world of MMA, but at only 23 years of age, he still has room to grow, both literally and figuratively, into the part.

A few months back, the New York native teased a that his future may lie in the heavyweight division, but now with a new diet in place Jones believes that any move to a bigger weight class will be only for the right fight and not a permanent move.

Jones spoke with MMAWeekly Radio about his new diet that has him feeling better than ever as he prepares for his Feb. 5 showdown against Ryan Bader at UFC 126.

“Right now I’m weighing 218 (pounds). I have a great diet and I’m realizing the weight cut really isn’t that bad,” said Jones. “This fight is the first fight where I really, really stuck to my diet and I haven’t been cheating. So I feel great, I feel really agile, I feel really excited to be honest with you right now.”

Growing up with two brothers who are just as big if not bigger than Jones, even at six-feet-four-inches tall, he’s felt the brunt of being the smaller guy before.

“When I’m off and out of training I do get up to almost 230, and I’ve been a smaller heavyweight my whole life growing up and wrestling my brother who was ranked No. 1 in the nation as a heavyweight wrestler, and I’ve always been pushing around the bigger guys, so fighting heavyweight definitely doesn’t threaten me,” he admitted.

During his downtime, Jones mentioned that it’s McDonald’s that usually gets the best of him, but right now his diet is working wonders and he’s ready for any challenge that lies ahead at 205 pounds, not heavyweight.

If Jones does decide to take a fight at heavyweight, it will be because the right situation presents itself. He looks towards a UFC Hall of Famer for how he wants to guide his own career.

“I kind of like how Randy (Couture) has done it all throughout his MMA career,” Jones said. “With the right fight, I would definitely take a fight at heavyweight, but my dreams and my goals are all at the light heavyweight division, and I don’t want anything to get twisted saying I want to fight Cain (Velasquez) or any of the top heavyweights. If there was a cool fight stylistically for me at heavyweight, I’d give something to the fans and fight at a bigger weight.”

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has taken the road to a higher weight class for challenges like facing former titleholder Forrest Griffin, but is a natural middleweight. Jones believes he’s in the same boat.

“Exactly, that’s what I’m aiming for,” Jones mentioned when Anderson Silva’s brief move to light heavyweight happened.

Jones’ future plans remain at light heavyweight where, with a win over Ryan Bader at UFC 126, he’ll inch closer to the top of the division and, by the end of 2011, could be the top contender at 205 pounds.