Two-time UFC light heavyweight champion Jones announced that he was vacating his belt at the lighter weight on Monday in order to target the heavyweight division, bringing an end to his reign of more than 18 months after winning the title for the second time in his career.

He explained that his heavyweight goals were "going to take some time" and said there was "little rest on the throne", making good on those words as he put himself through a demanding test in the squat rack under the watch of a spotter.

Hauling a colossal weight off the rack and onto his shoulders, Jones gradually squatted through gritted teeth before pushing the bar back up and returning it to the bars, looking pleased as he pushed his muscles to their limits.