When requested in regards to the best of all time, UFC CEO Dana White did not hesitate to reply. He mentioned, ‘Jon Jones.’ In an interview with Lex Fridman, White mentioned what made Jones the UFC GOAT, and why there is not any doubt about it.
“He is by no means been beat. He destroyed everyone at gentle heavyweight which on the time was the hardest weight class within the firm, within the sport. Then he moved as much as heavyweight. He received simply at heavyweight,” White mentioned. “There is no debate. No one can debate who’s the best of all time. It is completely, positively Jon Jones. He is by no means misplaced. He is by no means been beat within the octagon.”
Jones grew to become the youngest UFC champion on the age of 23. He defeated Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128 in March 2011 to win the 205-pound championship on the Prudential Middle in Newark, New Jersey. All of his fights after which were championship bouts.
Jones was stripped of the title three separate occasions throughout his gentle heavyweight dominance. The primary time was in 2015 after defeating Daniel Cormier at UFC 182. Jones was compelled to vacate the championship after violating the UFC Athlete Conduct Coverage for being concerned in successful and run incident that brought about damage.
Jones received the interim gentle heavyweight title in his return combat towards Ovince Saint Preux however was stripped of that belt after testing constructive to banned substances. Fifteen months later he was going through Cormier in a rematch at UFC 214. Jones knocked Cormier out to win again the title however the consequence was later modified to a no contest when Jones once more examined constructive for a banned substance.
Jones received the belt in his first combat again from suspension and defended it three extra occasions earlier than vacating the division. General, Jones efficiently defended the sunshine heavyweight title eleven occasions.
Jones took a three-year hiatus from combating from 2020 to 2023. He returned as a heavyweight and received the championship in his heavyweight debut. Jones made fast work of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023 to seize his second divisional title. He is slated to tackle former two-time champion Stipe Miocic later this yr.
White mentioned that Jones had ‘by no means been overwhelmed’ and ‘he by no means misplaced,’ however that is precisely true. Jones was disqualified for unlawful elbows in a combat towards Matt Hamill in 2009. Jones was probably seconds away from a end and was successful, however guidelines are guidelines. It is true that Jones hasn’t been overwhelmed by one other fighter. His loss was basically to himself, however it’s nonetheless a loss.
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Whether or not you think about Jones unbeaten or not would not actually matter. There are different variables to contemplate and White believes longevity is one in all them.
“The opposite factor that it’s a must to think about too is longevity,” mentioned White. “Typically, with a number of these guys, the game passes them by. Youthful guys which might be sooner, this, that, and the game evolves. No one’s been capable of beat Jon Jones.
“The opposite factor that you just measure, if you mentioned dominance, it is true. In case you’re this man that has unbelievable energy and also you’re simply f**king knocking everyone out and no person’s ever pulled you into the deep water earlier than. That was when my opinion of Jon Jones began to alter,” White continued.
“[Alexander] Gustafsson took him into the deep water. Gustafsson hit him with some sh*t that he had by no means been hit with. Gustafsson examined him and put Jon Jones in a spot the place I guess in case you sat down and interviewed Jon Jones, going into the deep rounds of that Jon Jones thought he was going to die. And he stored going. He was prepared to do no matter it took to win that combat… It is simple. You’ll be able to hate all you need. Jon Jones is the best of all time.”
Do you agree with White?
