Alexander Volkanovski shares photo from when he was over 210 lbs, calls out Jon Jones

After his thrilling UFC 232 defeat of Chad Mendes, Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski is right on the cusp of a shot at the UFC featherweight title. Speaking on Twitter this weekend, however, the surging featherweight contender issued a callout of UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

Prior to his success in MMA, Volkanovski was a rugby player. During his rugby days, he apparently weighed more than 210 pounds — pretty incredible considering he hit the 145-pound mark at the UFC 232 weigh ins.

On Saturday, Alexander Volkanovski shared a photo from his days as a 210+lb. rugby player, and jokingly called out Jon Jones — the champion he’d be gunning for if he still weighed this much.

https://twitter.com/alexvolkanovski/status/1081642523599073280

“[Jon Jones] I’m coming for that belt,” he wrote on Twitter. “Ever wondered what a featherweight would look like fighting at light heavyweight?”

With his TKO defeat of Chad Mendes — which served as Mendes’ retirement fight — Alexander Volkanovski improved his current win-streak to an incredible 16-straight. His six most recent wins have occurred in the UFC’s Octagon, where he’s beaten Yusuke Kasuya, Mizuto Hirota, Shane Young, Jeremy Kennedy, Darren Elkins, and now Mendes. Prior to joining the UFC, the 5-foot-6 Australian competed as heavy as the welterweight division. After his UFC 232 victory, Volkanovski is a very impressive 19-1 overall, and one of the top contenders for Max Holloway’s featherweight belt.

What do you think of the incredible weight-loss transformation Alexander Volkanovski has made over the course of his sporting career?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 1/6/2019.