Cain Velasquez Thinks He Can Beat Jon Jones, Who Warns The Former Heavyweight Champion

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez returns this weekend in the main event of UFC Fight Night Phoenix, facing Francis Ngannou.

Velasquez, who hasn’t competed since UFC 200, says he is willing to fight anybody inside of the Octagon.

“[I will fight] anyone,” Velasquez told TMZ Sports. “That’s why I’m in this sport: to fight the best guys, to be the best out there. To me, go out there and perform and win and take on the best guys.”

The former heavyweight champion is a longtime friend and training partner of UFC Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier, who has lost twice to UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.

If Velasquez and Jones were to ever meet in the Octagon, a confident Velasquez predicts he could defeat the light heavyweight champion.

“I think I could,” Velasquez said. “I think I’m good enough. Jon Jones is an amazing athlete. I’ve watched him in all his fights, I know what he’s capable of. Again, every guy poses a great challenge and I think he does as well but I think I can beat him.”

A short time after Velasquez said he can beat Jones, a warning was issued to the former champion by Jones via Instagram:

 

 

 

 

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Your confidence is going to have to be on lock in order to beat me my guy. Can’t be talking about “I think I can.” I feed off picograms of self-doubt, and I can smell it from miles away. — For now let’s just focus on the fights ahead of us. My heavyweight days are inevitable.

A post shared by Jon Bones Jones (@jonnybones) on Feb 15, 2019 at 6:45pm PST

UFC Fight Night Phoenix takes place on Sunday, February 17 from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona with Francis Ngannou and Cain Velasquez headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on ESPN.