LAS VEGAS – There was a time not long ago when Jon Jones was considered by many to be the top fighter in the sport.
And while Jones never lost to cause any kind of tumble down the pound-for-pound list, his inactivity for more than three years no doubt has caused some to wonder if he can return after such a lengthy layoff and go right back to the throne.
Even Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) himself, ahead of his vacant heavyweight title fight against former interim champion Ciryl Gane (11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) in the UFC 285 main event, is willing to concede someone else is the pound-for-pound best in the game right now.
Jones, a longtime light heavyweight titleholder who vacated his belt in 2020 for a planned move to heavyweight that finally willl come to fruition Saturday, thinks featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (25-2 MMA, 12-1 UFC) is the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter, even though he just lost a lightweight title shot against champ Islam Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC).
“Volkanovski has been very active. I do believe he deserves to be the top fighter in the world, him and Islam,” Jones said at UFC 285 media day Wednesday in Las Vegas. “I think both (are the top two). Volkanovski kept that title after a loss. He deserves it. He’s refreshing, he speaks well, his country loves him, he represents the sport well.”
Jones’ inactivity took him out of MMA Junkie’s pound-for-pound rankings a while back, but his return against Gane will have him eligible to enter the rankings once more.
If Jones wins the heavyweight title, it will make him a rare two-division UFC champion. Many think he would cement himself as the greatest fighter in history if that happens, and that’s something Jones said he’s more concerned with than where he falls compared to Volkanovski right now on the pound-for-pound list.
“I’m fighting to be the greatest fighter ever, not to be the best pound-for-pound right now,” Jones said. “We have two different motivations, and I think there’s room for both of us at the top.”
Jones is a slight betting favorite at -160 at Tipico Sportsbook. The comeback on slight underdog Gane is +140.
UFC 285 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.
