Khabib Nurmagomedov, himself an undefeated legend, holds immense respect for fellow fighter Jon Jones. Following Jones` recent retirement announcement, Nurmagomedov went so far as to declare him the greatest fighter “in UFC history.”
In a message originally shared via Instagram Stories, Nurmagomedov paid tribute to Jones, stating:
My congratulations, legend. Even though we weren`t friends, you are the best to ever do it in UFC history, and you inspire millions worldwide. You have nothing left to prove in this sport.
Both Nurmagomedov and Jones concluded their mixed martial arts careers without suffering a true loss inside the octagon. Nurmagomedov retired with a perfect 29-0 record in 2020, having defended his lightweight title successfully four times consecutively. Jones finished with a 28-1 record (1 No Contest); his single defeat came via disqualification for illegal downward elbows against Matt Hamill in 2009.
Jones achieved superstardom rapidly. At just 23 years old, he defeated Mauricio Rua to capture the light heavyweight title, becoming the youngest champion in UFC history—a record he still holds. He defended this belt a remarkable 11 times. After a period away from the sport between 2020 and 2023, he returned to the heavyweight division and earned a second divisional title by defeating Ciryl Gane for the vacant championship at UFC 285.
However, Jones` celebrated career is marred by significant controversies outside the cage. His initial reign as light heavyweight champion ended when the UFC stripped him of the title following a hit-and-run conviction in April 2015. Later, after reclaiming the belt from rival Daniel Cormier at UFC 214, that victory was overturned because Jones tested positive for banned substances.
Beyond substance issues, the 37-year-old has also faced legal troubles, including multiple charges for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and a domestic battery charge in September 2021.
Even the announcement of his retirement this past Saturday was partially overshadowed, as reports emerged the same evening that Jones had recently been charged with leaving the scene of an accident.
