Jon Jones has reportedly retired from mixed martial arts. Despite his remarkable and nearly unparalleled list of achievements inside the cage, the persistent question surrounding his career is whether he can definitively be called the greatest fighter of all time in MMA.
In a recent special episode of the MMA Fighting Rankings Show, a panel featuring analysts Alexander K. Lee, Damon Martin, Jed Meshew, and E. Casey Leydon revisited the perennial topic of Jones` legacy and how it stacks up against other contenders in the “GOAT” conversation. They debated whether the former two-division UFC champion`s accomplishments are sufficient to place him above icons such as Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jose Aldo, Fedor Emelianenko, and others. A key point of discussion was whether Jones, pound-for-pound, represents the most skilled fighter ever.
Each of the four panelists offered their individual ranking for Jones, presenting their specific arguments to support their conclusion on whether he rightfully holds the title of the undisputed GOAT in the sport.
Furthermore, in light of Ilia Topuria`s impactful knockout victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound rankings now feature a compelling scenario with three champions receiving votes for the coveted No. 1 position: Ilia Topuria, Islam Makhachev, and Alexandre Pantoja. The panelists delved into their reasoning for selecting their choice as the planet`s current best overall fighter.
Oliver Croft