JON JONES believes it’s his “destiny” to win the UFC’s heavyweight title.
The promotion’s former dominant light-heavyweight king has been gearing up for a long-awaited move up to heavyweight for over two years.
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Jones, 34, hasn’t set foot inside the cage since a controversial final title defence against Dominick Reyes but is confident of becoming a two-division champion upon his return.
He tweeted: “I’ve been imagining it for over two years now, I genuinely believe winning this heavyweight championship is in my destiny.
“It’s already been written. I just need to keep my nose in the dirt for now and keep working, everything else will take care of itself.”
Former pound-for-pound king Jones looked far from his mercurial best in his UFC 247 victory over Reyes.
He admitted: “My candle for light heavyweight blew out, it showed in my last fight.
“Instead of being discouraged by a bad performance, I’m stoked about this new season.
“New energy. My time at LWH was over, I see that more clear today than ever.”
Jones’ hiatus from the cage has in part been down to a pay dispute with the UFC brass over a potential blockbuster bout with defending champ Francis Ngannou.
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SunSport revealed in January that Jones’ new advisor – Richard Schaefer – was set to hold talks with UFC chiefs to hash out a new deal.
The former Golden Boy Promotions CEO told SunSport: “He is willing, ready and able to fight whoever we can get for the heavyweight title.
“The reason why I just don’t say Francis Ngannou; I’d love to put together a Francis Ngannou fight and I’m in conversations with the UFC.
“And as a matter of fact, I’m going to be meeting with them this weekend here in Los Angeles.”
Jones has packed on several pounds of lean muscle mass in preparation for his eagerly-anticipated move up to heavyweight.
And according to Schaefer, he’s champing at the bit to get back inside the octagon this year.
He said: “We want to fight. Jon wants to fight and Jon wants to fight for the heavyweight title.
“And Jon is the kind of guy who fights anyone no problem.
“So I’m going to see if I can try to put that together. But Jon Jones is, as I said, the Floyd Mayweather of the UFC.
“He’s a legend, he’s undefeated and he is in a league of his own.”
