John JonesUFC career has been marred by lengthy layoffs fueled by suspensions due to a string of legal skirmishes and positive drug tests, but that hasn’t stopped many from calling him the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.
Since his pro debut in 2008, Jones has gone 26-1 with one no contest and his only loss, a disqualification in December 2009 due to improper elbow strikes in a fight he dominated. He is arguably the most naturally gifted fighter to ever appear in the cage and his resume is as rich as ever with victories against various legends, UFC Hall of Famers and the best of two generations of light heavyweights.
Three years later, Jones, now 35, will make his long-awaited return to the octagon this Saturday at UFC 285 in Las Vegas, where he will make his heavyweight debut to face Cyril Gein for the vacant title.
Before he does, you can check out one highlight and one photo from each of his 22 UFC fights below.
Video: One moment from every Jon Jones fight
UFC 87, Aug 9, 2008: Jon Jones wins. André Gusman via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 30–27)
UFC 94 January. January 31, 2009: Jon Jones w. Stephan Bonnar by unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)
UFC 100, July 11, 2009: Jon Jones wins. Jake O’Brien submission (modified guillotine choke) – round 2, 2:43
TUF Final 10, December 5, 2009: Matt Hamill, win. Jon Jones Via Disqualification (Illegal Elbows) – Round 1, 4:14
UFC on Versus 1, March 21, 2010: Jon Jones wins. Brandon Vera TKO (strikes) – round 1, 3:19
UFC on Versus 2, Aug 1, 2010: Jon Jones wins. Vladimir Matyushenko TKO (elbows) – 1 round, 1:52
UFC 126, February 5, 2011: Jon Jones wins. Ryan Bader submission (guillotine choke) – round 2, 4:20
UFC 128, March 19, 2011: Jon Jones wins. “Shogun” Rua TKO (strikes) – round 3, 2:37 – for the light heavyweight title
UFC 135 – September 24, 2011: Jon Jones wins. ‘Rampage’ Jackson submission (rear naked choke) – round 4, 1:14 – to retain the light heavyweight title.
UFC 140, Dec 10, 2011: Jon Jones wins. Lyoto Machida via technical hold (standing guillotine choke) – round 2, 4:26 – for retaining the light heavyweight title
UFC 145, April 21, 2012: Jon Jones wins. Rashad Evans via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 50-45) to retain light heavyweight title
Jon Jones and Rashad Evans at UFC 145. (USA TODAY Sports)
UFC 152 – September 22, 2012: Jon Jones wins. Vitor Belfort via submission (americana) – round 4 at 0:54 – retain light heavyweight title
UFC 159, April 27, 2013: Jon Jones wins. Chael Sonnen via TKO (punches) – round 1 at 4:33 – to retain light heavyweight title
UFC 165, September 21, 2013: Jon Jones wins. Alexander Gustafsson via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) to retain light heavyweight title.
(USA TODAY Sports)
UFC 172, April 26, 2014: Jon Jones wins. Glover Teixeira via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) – retain light heavyweight title
UFC 182, Jan 3, 2015: Jon Jones wins. Daniel Cormier via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) to retain light heavyweight title
Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier at UFC 182. (USA TODAY Sports)
* Jones was stripped of belt in April 2015 as a result of his involvement in the hit-and-run incident
UFC 197, April 23, 2016: Jon Jones wins. Ovince Saint-Preux via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-45, 50-45) – for interim light heavyweight title
* Jones was devoid of time zone ahead of a scheduled fight to unify the UFC 200 titles with Daniel Cormier after he failed a drug test and was suspended for one year by the US Anti-Doping Agency.
UFC 214, Jul 29, 2017: Jon Jones wins. Daniel Cormier TKO (head punches, punches) – Round 3, 3:01 – Light Heavyweight Championship*
Jones Jones (blue) and Daniel Cormier at UFC 214. (USA TODAY Sports)
*Jones’ victory was subsequently canceled without contest and he was stripped of the title after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug; Jones received a two-year ban from USADA for violating
UFC 232, Dec 29, 2018: Jon Jones wins. Alexander Gustafsson KO (punches) – Round 3, 2:02 – for vacant light heavyweight title
UFC 235, March 2, 2019: Jon Jones wins. Anthony Smith via unanimous decision (48-44, 48-44, 48-44) to retain light heavyweight title
(Stephen R. Sylvania, USA TODAY Sports)
UFC 239, July 6, 2019: Jon Jones wins. Thiago Santos via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) to retain light heavyweight title
(Stephen R. Sylvania, USA TODAY Sports)
UFC 247, February 8, 2020: Jon Jones wins. Dominick Reyes via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) to retain light heavyweight title
(Thomas Shea, USA TODAY Sports)
*Jones relinquished title six months later as part of his move up to the heavyweight division
Source: sports.yahoo.com
