Still undefeated, Bellator 185's Jordan Young plans move to 205 pounds

Jordan Young extended his unbeaten streak a week ago at Bellator 185, tapping Alec Hooben with a triangle choke inside three minutes.

So far, only two of Young’s professional opponents have made it out of the first round. That doesn’t seem like the condition for a career change. But apparently, he’s ready for one.

“I think that the next move for me is you’ll see me at light heavyweight,” Young (8-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) told MMAjunkie after submitting Hooben (5-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA). “That’s a big move for me.”

Indeed it is. The gap between middleweight and light heavyweight is the second largest in MMA with 20 pounds separating the divisions. Typically, fighters move down to capitalize on height and reach advantages against smaller fighters. But for the 22-year-old Young, it’s a necessary move as he gets older and picks up more muscle.

His fight against Hooben was supposed to be at a catchweight of 195 pounds, but Young wound up hitting 200 pounds on the scale on weigh-in day.

At 6-foot-4, his frame doesn’t present an obvious disadvantage against taller and heavier opponents.

“There was a time in my career where I was fighting at 170 pounds, so as I grow up and mature … I’m getting bigger and stronger every day,” he said. “The (weight) cuts, they were definitely tough. I think with my build, 205 will be a healthier choice going forward.”

It will also be a smarter choice if longevity is what Jordan seeks. Fighters who cut large amounts of weight often meet diminishing returns as they get older. Drops that were once easy become difficult as a body’s metabolism grows less efficient and struggles with the effects of dehydration.

There are dozens of examples of veteran fighters whose bodies simply gave out during a weight cut, prompting a last-minute scratch from a fight card. Young doesn’t want to be one while he’s on his way up the MMA ladder.

While he was targeting a showdown with Bellator middleweight Chris Honeycutt (10-1 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) after a tumultuous training camp, Young is eyeing bigger targets the next time he steps in the cage.

Hear more from the unbeaten Young in the video above.

And for complete coverage of Bellator 185, check out the MMA Events section of the site.