Video: UFC champ Jon Jones tells Georges St-Pierre to ‘get a belly’

SACRAMENTO – UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones doesn’t know why Georges St-Pierre bothered to explain his decision to walk away from MMA. As far as he’s concerned, the longtime UFC champ has earned the right to do whatever he wants, and “Bones” thinks “Rush” should make the most of his time off.

“I don’t think Georges should have come out and blamed it on stress or having too much pressure,” Jones told MMAjunkie. “I don’t think Georges owes anyone an explanation. I mean, he’s done it all. Any extra – any more fights out of him – is just bonus.”

St-Pierre, of course, announced on Friday that he is giving up his belt and walking away from the UFC after serving the past five years as the company’s undisputed welterweight champion. While he left the door open for a return, he made it clear he’s simply not fit for competition right now.

Jones, who is nearing three years as a UFC champion, admits he sometimes feels the stresses that St-Pierre referenced as his reason for hanging up his gloves. But Jones believes St-Pierre didn’t need to try to explain his emotions and should now simply focus on enjoying his time away from the cage.

“I don’t think he should have went the route of saying he had too much stress,” Jones said. “Now people are worried about him. Georges is long good, I’m sure.

“The guy is young, successful, he has the whole world ahead of him. So I’m proud of Georges. I think he’s been a great example, and I hope he’s having fun with his vacation. Get a belly. Get a belly, Georges.”

Check out the above video to hear Jones discuss his thoughts on St-Pierre’s announcement, as well as his own plans for the future, sharing the “EA Sports UFC” cover with Alexander Gustafsson and whether  he could possibly reschedule his fight with Glover Teixeira yet again.

And for more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.