Jon Jones’ UFC career has been marred by long layoffs caused by suspensions due to a number of legal run-ins and positive tests for performance-enhancing drugs, but that hasn’t stopped many from calling him the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.
Since making his professional debut in 2008, Jones is 26-1 with one no contest and his lone defeat a December 2009 disqualification due to illegal elbows in a fight he was dominating. He’s perhaps the most naturally gifted fighter to ever grace the cage, and his resume is as decorated as they come, with victories against various legends, UFC Hall of Famers and top contenders across two generations of light heavyweights. He’s also won the UFC heavyweight championship.
You can check out one highlight and one photo from each of his 23 UFC bouts below.
UFC 87, Aug. 9, 2008: Jon Jones def. Andre Gusmao via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 30–27)
UFC 94, Jan. 31, 2009: Jon Jones def. Stephan Bonnar via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)
UFC 100, July 11, 2009: Jon Jones def. Jake O'Brien via submission (modified guillotine choke) – Round 2, 2:43
TUF 10 Finale, Dec. 5, 2009: Matt Hamill def. Jon Jones via disqualification (illegal elbows) – Round 1, 4:14
UFC on Versus 1, March 21, 2010: Jon Jones def. Brandon Vera via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 3:19
UFC on Versus 2, Aug. 1, 2010: Jon Jones def. Vladimir Matyushenko via TKO (elbows) – Round 1, 1:52
UFC 126, Feb. 5, 2011: Jon Jones def. Ryan Bader via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 4:20
UFC 128, March 19, 2011: Jon Jones def. 'Shogun' Rua via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 2:37 – to win light heavyweight title
UFC 135, Sept. 24, 2011: Jon Jones def. 'Rampage' Jackson via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 4, 1:14 – to retain light heavyweight title
UFC 140, Dec. 10, 2011: Jon Jones def. Lyoto Machida via technical submission (standing guillotine choke) – Round 2, 4:26 – to retain light heavyweight title
UFC 145, April 21, 2012: Jon Jones def. Rashad Evans via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 50-45) – to retain light heavyweight title
UFC 152, Sept. 22, 2012: Jon Jones def. Vitor Belfort via submission (americana) – Round 4, 0:54 – to retain light heavyweight title
UFC 159, April 27, 2013: Jon Jones def. Chael Sonnen via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 4:33 – to retain light heavyweight title
UFC 165, Sept. 21, 2013: Jon Jones def. Alexander Gustafsson via unanimous decision (48–47, 48–47, 49–46) – to retain light heavyweight title
UFC 172, April 26, 2014: Jon Jones def. Glover Teixeira via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) – to retain light heavyweight title
UFC 182, Jan. 3, 2015: Jon Jones def. Daniel Cormier via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) – to retain light heavyweight title
*Jones was stripped of the belt in April 2015 as a result of his involvement in a hit-and-run incident
UFC 197, April 23, 2016: Jon Jones def. Ovince Saint Preux via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-45, 50-45) – to win interim light heavyweight title
*Jones was stripped of his interim belt ahead of a scheduled UFC 200 title-unification bout with Daniel Cormier after he failed a drug test and was handed a one-year suspension by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency
UFC 214, July 29, 2017: Jon Jones def. Daniel Cormier via TKO (head kick, punches) – Round 3, 3:01 – to win light heavyweight title*
*Jones’ win was subsequently overturned to a no contest and he was stripped of the title after he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug; Jones received a two-year suspension from USADA for the violation
UFC 232, Dec. 29, 2018: Jon Jones def. Alexander Gustafsson via knockout (punches) – Round 3, 2:02 – to win vacant light heavyweight title
UFC 235, March 2, 2019: Jon Jones def. Anthony Smith via unanimous decision (48-44, 48-44, 48-44) – to retain light heavyweight title
UFC 239, July 6, 2019: Jon Jones def. Thiago Santos via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) – to retain light heavyweight title
UFC 247, Feb. 8, 2020: Jon Jones def. Dominick Reyes via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) – to retain light heavyweight title
*Jones relinquished his title six months later as part of his move up to the heavyweight division
UFC 285, March 5, 2023: Jon Jones def. Ciryl Gane via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 2:04 – to win vacant heavyweight title
