Jon Jones has retired from mixed martial arts, leaving behind a remarkable list of achievements inside the cage. However, his departure reignites a persistent question: Does he truly stand as the greatest fighter to ever compete in the sport?
A recent discussion among experts—Alexander K. Lee, Damon Martin, Jed Meshew, and E. Casey Leydon—revisited this critical evaluation of Jones’s legacy. They debated how his career measures up against other legends often cited in the GOAT conversation, including Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jose Aldo, and Fedor Emelianenko. The panel explored whether Jones`s accomplishments, notably his status as a two-division UFC champion, are sufficient to place him above all others and if he is pound-for-pound the most skilled fighter in history.
During the debate, each panelist offered their personal ranking of Jones and presented their arguments supporting or refuting his claim as the undisputed GOAT of MMA.
The discussion also shifted to the current landscape of the pound-for-pound rankings, particularly in light of Ilia Topuria`s significant knockout victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. This result has created a scenario where three champions—Topuria, Islam Makhachev, and Alexandre Pantoja—are receiving votes for the coveted number one spot. The experts shared their perspectives on which of these elite fighters currently deserves to be recognized as the best overall fighter on the planet.
