Jon Jones has reportedly stepped away from competition. Despite his extensive list of achievements inside the cage, a significant question remains: Can he truly be considered the greatest fighter to ever compete in mixed martial arts?
In a recent installment of the MMA Fighting Rankings Show, panelists Alexander K. Lee, Damon Martin, Jed Meshew, and E. Casey Leydon revisited the frequent discussion surrounding Jones` legacy and how it compares to other contenders for the GOAT title. They debated whether the former two-division UFC champion`s accomplishments surpass those of greats like Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jose Aldo, Fedor Emelianenko, among others. A key point of discussion was whether Jones possesses the highest level of skill when measured pound-for-pound.
Each of the four participants ranked Jones and presented their arguments supporting or refuting his claim to being the undisputed greatest of all time.
The episode also addressed the current MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound rankings, especially following Ilia Topuria`s impactful knockout win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. This result led to three champions—Topuria, Islam Makhachev, and Alexandre Pantoja—receiving votes for the number one spot. The panelists shared their rationale for selecting their pick as the top overall fighter globally.
