Jon Jones

Jonathan Dwight Jones (born July 19, 1987) is an American former professional mixed martial artist who competed from 2008 to 2024. He competed in the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was a two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, the UFC Heavyweight Champion from 2023 to 2025, and the interim UFC Light Heavyweight Champion in 2016. He is the eighth UFC fighter to win titles in two different weight classes and the fourth to defend titles in two different divisions. Jones is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time.

Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history with his light heavyweight title victory over Maurício Rua at age 23. He holds numerous UFC records in the light heavyweight division, including the most title defenses, most wins, and longest win streak, while also holding the UFC records for the most overall title fight wins and overall title defenses regardless of division. He is also the only fighter ever to beat five former UFC champions consecutively. During much of his championship reign, Jones was widely considered to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and spent a record 1,743 days as the UFC's #1 pound-for-pound fighter. Never stopped nor outscored during his career, Jones's only professional loss is a controversial disqualification against Matt Hamill: a result disputed by Hamill and UFC president Dana White.

Between 2015 and 2017, Jones was involved in several controversies and lost his light heavyweight title three times as a result of disciplinary action. He was first stripped of his title and removed from the official rankings by the UFC in 2015 after he was arrested on felony hit-and-run charges. His subsequent returns to the UFC in 2016 and 2017 saw him emerge victorious in title bouts against Ovince Saint Preux and Daniel Cormier, but were both cut short by Jones testing positive for banned substances and receiving further suspensions, with the latter reversed to a no contest. After his 2017 suspension was lifted, Jones reclaimed the championship by defeating Alexander Gustafsson in 2018, which he held until voluntarily vacating it in 2020. Jones spent three years away from MMA before returning in 2023 to win the heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane, later defending it against Stipe Miocic and holding it until his 2025 retirement.

Early life

Jones was born on July 19, 1987, in Rochester, New York. At the age of 10, he relocated with his family to the Binghamton area. His father Arthur is a pastor at Mount Sinai Church of God in Christ in Binghamton, New York. Growing up, family life revolved around church, and Jones even sang in the church choir. Arthur discouraged Jon's fighting career, "I wanted him to preach. I tried to discourage him from being a fighter. I told him you don't want to do that. You can do other things. Be a pastor." Jon's mother, Camille, died in 2017 at the age of 55, after a long battle with diabetes.

Jon was one of four children. His older brother, Arthur, was a former American football defensive lineman who played for the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins, while his younger brother, Chandler, last played as an outside linebacker for the Las Vegas Raiders. His older sister, Carmen, died of a brain tumor before her 18th birthday.

Background

Before beginning his MMA career, Jones was a stand-out high school wrestler at Union-Endicott High School in Endicott, New York. As a junior in 2004, he won the Northeast Junior Greco‑Roman Regional Championship at 189 lb and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the event. That year, he also won the STAC Wrestling Championship and placed third at the New York State Division I Championships. He returned in 2005 as a senior to capture the New York State Division I title at 189 lb, and was named an NHSCA Senior All‑American. Over the course of his high school career, he was a two-time Section IV champion. He also played football as a defensive lineman; due to his slight frame, his coach nicknamed him "Bones".

As a freshman at Iowa Central Community College, Jones won a NJCAA wrestling national championship, helped secure the overall team championship, and was named an All-American. After transferring to Morrisville State College to study Criminal Justice, he dropped out of college to begin his MMA career.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Jones made his professional MMA debut in April 2008. He amassed an undefeated record of 6–0 over a period of three months, finishing all of his opponents. In his last bout before signing with the UFC, Jones defeated Moyses Gabin at BCX 5 for the USKBA Light Heavyweight Championship. He won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Debut and rise to contender status

Jones made his UFC debut against André Gusmão at UFC 87 on August 9, 2008. Jones had accepted the deal on two weeks' notice as a late replacement for Tomasz Drwal. Jones won via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, and 30–27), using takedowns and unorthodox striking, such as spinning elbows and a spinning back kick.

In his second UFC match, Jones took on veteran Stephan Bonnar at UFC 94 on January 31, 2009. Jones won the fight by unanimous decision.

Jones's third fight was against Jake O'Brien at UFC 100 on July 11, 2009. Jones won via submission. In September 2009, Jones was rewarded for his victories by signing a new, four-fight contract with the UFC.

On December 5, 2009, Jones fought fellow light heavyweight prospect Matt Hamill at The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale. Jones used his wrestling to dominate Hamill, but was disqualified for the use of illegal 12–6 elbows. The Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts prohibited downward elbow strikes, and Jones was initially only penalized a point from the round. However, Hamill was unable to continue due to his dislocated shoulder. Consequently, the replay simulation was reviewed, and showed that Jones's elbows further damaged Hamill's already bloody and lacerated nose. This marked the first time that Nevada had used its recently enacted instant replay rule, in which the referee's decision was supported by the commission, which utilized a slow-motion replay to review the elbows. UFC president Dana White was aggrieved that referee Steve Mazagatti ruled the bout as a disqualification, which resulted in a loss for Jones, saying that it should have been a no contest. In 2019, White said he was still attempting to have the result overturned to a no contest by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Jones fought Brandon Vera on March 21, 2010, at UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones. Jones won the fight by TKO. The elbow delivered to stop the fight also broke Vera's face in three places. Jones also won the "Knockout of the Night" award.

Jones defeated former IFL Light Heavyweight Champion Vladimir Matyushenko by TKO with elbows in 1:52 of the first round on August 1, 2010, at UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko. Dana White promised Jones a "huge step-up in the competition", if he managed to defeat Matyushenko. Following the match with Matyushenko, White said, "Vladimir Matyushenko is a guy who I have a lot of respect for and I didn't think it was going to happen that easy. Jones is the real deal and he just catapulted himself tonight into the top eight in the world. Tonight solidified it. ... He's got to keep his head together, stay focused and keep doing all the right things in training. He's smart, good looking and bad-ass. He's going to make a lot of money—this kid is going to do very well."

After defeating Matyushenko, Jones stated that he wanted a "top-three opponent" for his next fight. Jones mentioned in an interview with Inside MMA that he would be facing the winner of Antônio Rogério Nogueira vs. Ryan Bader. Reports that Jones had previously been offered a match with Nogueira, but turned it down, turned out to be false. In the Inside MMA interview, Jones also stated that he had been informed by Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta that if he finished his next two fights, he would likely receive a title shot.

White soon confirmed that Jones would face the undefeated Ultimate Fighter winner Ryan Bader, on February 5, 2011, at UFC 126. Jones handed Bader his first professional loss by defeating him via submission due to a guillotine choke in the second round after dominating Bader in the first round. Jones was awarded the "Submission of the Night" bonus.

Light Heavyweight Champion

Immediately after the bout with Bader, it was revealed that title contender and Jones's training partner Rashad Evans had sustained a knee injury in training, and would not be able to compete in his scheduled match with UFC light heavyweight champion Maurício "Shogun" Rua. Jones was told by Joe Rogan in the post-fight interview that he would replace Evans in the fight for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. On March 19, 2011, at UFC 128, Jones defeated Rua by TKO at 2:37 of Round 3, becoming the youngest ever UFC champion. After an early flying knee that badly hurt the champion, Shogun was dominated throughout the three rounds. A body shot and knee to the head dropped the champion to his knees, causing the referee to step in and halt the match.