Jon Jones‘ best of all time declare has been challenged, with Khabib Nurmagomedov given the nod forward of him.
The best of all time debate is never ever universally agreed upon by fanbases, and that continues to be the case in blended martial arts. Many components go into being labeled the GOAT, with championship success and dominance among the many important standards for a fighter to be included within the dialogue.
Jon Jones has that in abundance. Not solely is he the youngest UFC champion in firm historical past, however he’s additionally the most-decorated champion within the promotion, with 16 title-fight wins since debuting in 2008. Jones did all of this whereas being one of the vital dominant fighters we have ever seen grace the octagon. The now-38-year-old made elite competitors seem like amateurs throughout the peak of his profession, and is taken into account by most to be the perfect the UFC has ever seen.
However regardless of the great work he managed all through his profession, the obvious negatives can’t be ignored. On a number of cases, Jones has failed drug exams, which have been an enormous stain on his legacy.
Whereas not discrediting him as a fighter, American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez believes Jones can’t be thought of the best after he was discovered responsible of utilizing PEDs. As an alternative, Mendez offered that mantle to Khabib Nurmagomedov.
„The GOAT for me is Khabib,“ Mendez mentioned. „And I might put Jon Jones in that class, however I am unable to. You paid the worth. You misplaced your prize.“
„In case you’re caught doing one thing you should not have been doing, how will you be thought of on the high of the league? If it is a true sport, and in a real sport, you can’t. Though you’re, you can’t. You can not put that particular person forward. How many individuals have gained Olympic gold medals, after which they discover out they cheated, a method or one other, and received the Olympic gold medals taken away from them? Effectively, if it is true for every other sport, it must be true for MMA, too.“
„So, that is the one purpose why I do not contemplate him the best. I do contemplate him certainly one of them, though, however I might have thought of him the best of all time, for rattling positive.“
