Jon Jones vows to make UFC return when ‘good and ready’ after stunning body transformation ahead of heavyweight debut

JON JONES has vowed to return to the UFC when he’s ‘good and ready’ as he continues to prepare for his long-awaited heavyweight debut.

The former long-reigning 205lb king has been putting on the beef for the best part of the year in order to mix it with the behemoths that await him at heavyweight.

GettyJon Jones hasn’t set foot inside the octagon in over a year[/caption]

Instagram @jonnybonesThe future UFC Hall-of-Famer is gearing up for his long-awaited heavyweight debut[/caption]

But his eagerly-anticipated move up in weight has been delayed by an ongoing pay dispute with the UFC brass, who have so far refused to meet his demands.

Jones, 33, is happy to sit on the sidelines and continue to put on lean mass until the UFC plays ball.

He tweeted: “Becoming a heavy weight is a serious process.

“Not many people understands what it takes to do it the right way. I’ll be back when I’m good and ready.”

Jones has already put on a considerable amount of size ahead of his move up to the stacked 265lb division.

The future UFC Hall-of-Famer is currently walking around at 255lbs – a whopping 32.5lbs (two stone, 3lbs) heavier than when he was competing as a light-heavyweight.

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But he admits some of the weight he’s put won’t necessarily benefit him inside the octagon.

He added: “It would definitely hurt my speed and cardio if I was to try and rush the process.

“Achieving greatness isn’t something that’s done overnight, it takes patience and consistency sometimes.

“Right now my biggest fight is in the gym day by day. Getting more gold will come later.”

UFC fans across the globe were hoping the promotion would book a blockbuster fight between Jones and Francis Ngannou after the latter claimed the heavyweight throne in March.

INSTAGRAM@JONNYBONESJon Jones has put on a considerable amount of size ahead of his heavyweight debut[/caption]

Jones wants a payday north of £7.25million ($10m) to face The Predator, a figure the UFC aren’t willing to meet.

In May, he tweeted: “I had a brief phone meeting with UFC‘s lawyer Hunter a few days ago.

“As of right now I expressed to him that anywhere around eight to $10 million would be way too low for a fight of this magnitude.

“That’s all that has been discussed so far.

“I believe I was grossly underpaid throughout my entire 20s.

GettyJon Jones is currently embroiled in a bitter pay dispute with the UFC[/caption]

“I’m not even here bitching about that. I just want to see the future done right.”

Although the UFC is moving on without Jones, the pound-for-pound king is happy to stay inactive until he gets what he wants.

He said: “Honestly, I feel like the only people that it benefits me jumping in their early are the other heavyweights.

“The way I’m training, I’m gonna be a real problem this time next year.

“I’m comfortable enough to wait and that’s exactly what I’ll do.”