With Jon Jones potentially stepping away from active competition, his standing in the history of mixed martial arts remains a central point of discussion. Despite a career filled with unparalleled achievements inside the cage, the lingering question persists: Does he truly hold the title of the greatest fighter to ever compete in the sport?
A recent installment of the MMA Fighting Rankings Show convened panelists Alexander K. Lee, Damon Martin, Jed Meshew, and E. Casey Leydon to revisit this widely debated topic concerning Jones`s legacy. They examined how his record as a two-division UFC champion compares to that of other prominent figures in the GOAT conversation, including Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jose Aldo, and Fedor Emelianenko. A key point of contention was whether Jones`s accomplishments are sufficient to clearly surpass these legends and if he represents the most skilled fighter from a pound-for-pound perspective.
Each of the four participants offered their individual assessment, presenting their rationale for where Jones ranks and articulating why they believe he either is or isn`t the definitively undisputed greatest of all time.
Furthermore, the episode also addressed shifts in the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound Rankings. Following Ilia Topuria`s significant knockout victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, the top position is now contested by three champions who received votes for the number one spot: Ilia Topuria, Islam Makhachev, and Alexandre Pantoja. The panelists provided insights into their selections for who they consider the premier overall fighter on the planet currently.
