The MMA world is constantly buzzing with debates about the greatest fighter of all time. UFC president Dana White recently threw his hat into the ring on Lex Fridman's podcast, leaving no room for argument, Jon Jones reigns supreme.
"He's never been defeated," declared Dana White about Jones, momentarily overlooking the disqualification against Matt Hammill in 2009 (later overturned). Dana White elaborated, "Jon Jones dominated light heavyweight, the toughest division in the sport at the time. He then moved to heavyweight and won handily. There's no debate. Nobody can contest who the best is – Jon Jones. He's undefeated, never bested inside the octagon."
Jones, nicknamed "Bones," hasn't set foot in the octagon since his first-round victory over Cyril Gane in March 2023. A pectoral injury sidelined him from UFC 295 last November, adding to a previous three-year hiatus (2020-2023) due to contractual disputes with White. Yet, these setbacks don't diminish Dana White and his firm belief in Jon Jones supremacy.
"Look beyond the controversies, his longevity is undeniable," White emphasized. "You can dislike him all you want, but Jon Jones is the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)."
Jones debuted in the UFC in 2008 against Andre Gusmao. Over a decade later, at 36 years old, he remains a force to be reckoned with. This longevity is further cemented by his record as the youngest UFC champion ever, achieving the feat at the age of 23.
While Jones stands alone at the peak, who comes close? White acknowledges Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0-0), who retired undefeated in 2020 after defeating Justin Gaethje.
"Khabib had the potential to join the conversation," White conceded. "He just didn't compete long enough (2012-2020 in the UFC). Injuries might have propelled him to greatness even sooner, but there's no doubt – Khabib is an all-time great."
With Jones' dominance and Nurmagomedov's unrealized potential, the debate over MMA's G.O.A.T. is sure to continue. However, Dana White has made his stance undeniably clear, that Jon Jones remains the king of the octagon.
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