Jon Jones travelled to Australia to help the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs prepare for the upcoming NRL season and it looked like Bones could be ready to step in and actually play for them.
Jon Jones toured Australia last week courtesy of his partners Lifecykel Labs and Better Breathing Devices. On the top of the agenda was a one-day performance training with the Sydney-based NRL side Bulldogs at the Belmore Sports Ground… and Jones certainly did not disappoint.
After getting a warm welcome from the entire team, Jones wasted no time in joining them for a full day of sessions to get the Bulldogs match fit ahead of their upcoming campaign.
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Jones engaged the Bulldogs in various physical challenges including echo bike, pushups, sprint, and the gas in the tank challenge which measured the players’ lung capacity.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs also tested Jones’ rugby league skills by involving the UFC heavyweight champion in the action with passing, kicking, and tackling drills. Not surprisingly, it was Jones’ tackling skill that was by far the most impressive.
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Bones then capped up his incredible day with an inspiring Q&A session with the Bulldogs where he gave the team an inside look at the mind of the youngest fighter to become a UFC champion and the secrets to his successful UFC career.
Before leaving Jon even left a message for the Bulldogs’ fans as the NRL rugby season continues to draw near.
The Bulldogs open their NRL season against the Parramatta Eels on 9 March 2024, but Jones continues to wait for his next UFC assignment.
Bones has not fought since defeating Cyril Gane at UFC 285 last March. He was supposed to fight former champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 but had to withdraw from the event after suffering a pectoral tendon tear.
During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Jones claimed that he was approached by UFC lawyer Hunter Campbell and offered to headline the upcoming UFC 300 event scheduled for April 13 in Las Vegas. But Jones said that he turned it down because when the call was made it was only nine weeks to the date and considering his age, he figured he wouldn’t be 100% ready on short notice.
“I just don’t think I’ll be ready – I just don’t. I’m getting up there in age, I only have a few more events left, and I want to give those events my all and make sure that I come back one-hundred percent.”
It would have been great to see Bones in the tri-centennial event two months from now but knowing Jon, he doesn’t get himself in a fight where he cannot be 100% ready. But that’s fine, the MMA world can wait. The Bulldogs, however, will have to be ready when their rugby season begins in a few weeks.