Following reports of Jon Jones` retirement from mixed martial arts, the conversation around his legacy intensifies. Despite a list of in-cage achievements that are nearly unparalleled, the ultimate question persists: Does he truly stand as the greatest fighter to ever compete in the sport?
A recent discussion on the MMA Fighting Rankings Show featured contributors Alexander K. Lee, Damon Martin, Jed Meshew, and E. Casey Leydon revisiting the perennially debated subject of Jones` historical standing. They weighed his accomplishments against those of other figures frequently mentioned in GOAT discussions, such as Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jose Aldo, and Fedor Emelianenko. A central point of debate was whether Jones` success as a two-division UFC champion solidifies his position above these decorated athletes, and if he is the most technically skilled fighter on a pound-for-pound basis.
Each of the four panelists provided their personal evaluation of Jones` ranking within the sport`s history, articulating their reasons for considering him either the undisputed GOAT or ranking him differently.
The panel also turned its attention to the evolving landscape of the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound Rankings. In the aftermath of Ilia Topuria`s impactful knockout victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, three champions—Topuria himself, Islam Makhachev, and Alexandre Pantoja—are currently receiving votes for the prestigious No. 1 spot. The experts shared their justifications for which fighter they believe is currently the best overall competitor globally.
