With Jon Jones having stepped away from mixed martial arts competition, the long-standing question persists: despite his remarkable and nearly unmatched record in the cage, does he truly hold the title of the greatest fighter in the sport`s history?
This frequently debated topic was the focus of a recent episode of the MMA Fighting Rankings Show. Panelists Alexander K. Lee, Damon Martin, Jed Meshew, and E. Casey Leydon re-examined Jones`s legacy, particularly his reign as a two-division UFC champion, and discussed how his achievements compare to those of other widely considered GOAT candidates such as Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jose Aldo, and Fedor Emelianenko. A core part of the discussion centered on whether Jones possesses the highest level of skill when comparing fighters pound-for-pound.
During the episode, each of the four panelists offered their personal assessment of where Jones ranks among the all-time greats, presenting their arguments to support their position on whether he should or should not be considered the undisputed greatest of all time.
Additionally, the panel addressed the latest developments in the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound rankings, specifically the impact of Ilia Topuria`s significant knockout victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. This outcome resulted in a rare situation where three champions—Ilia Topuria, Islam Makhachev, and Alexandre Pantoja—each received votes for the prestigious No. 1 spot in the rankings. The panelists shared their reasoning behind their individual choice for who currently stands as the best overall fighter on the planet.
