Jon Jones has tackled the question of greatness, and how he shapes up against some of the other names in the GOAT debate, in advance of UFC 235.
Las Vegas, NV — UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones makes a quick turnaround this weekend, returning to the cage little more than two months after his return to action at UFC 232. After dispatching arch-rival Alexander Gustafsson at the end of December, Jones now faces the surging Anthony Smith at UFC 235. For Jones, it’s part of a plan to fight as much as possible this year, no doubt making up for lost time.
And while he’s a heavy favorite in the fight, he isn’t sleeping on Anthony Smith. At UFC 235’s media day in Las Vegas, he addressed fighting a younger, potentially quicker (at least, moving up from middleweight) opponent.
“To myself and to a lot of fans, people are going to say, how is he going to do against these young bucks, how is he going to do against 25-year olds?” Jones questioned. “These guys that are his [Anthony Smith’s] age? These guys that are middleweights, that are moving up? That’s a good question. Answering that question with a victory will be a huge part of my greatness.”
“Demetrious Johnson, for example, it’s not his fault he didn’t have legends in his division. But I did have legends in my division. And I beat them all.”
Greatness is something on Jones’ mind. The GOAT (greatest of all time) debate has raged in MMA for years. Jon Jones is frequently among the top names, alongside the likes of Georges St. Pierre, Anderson Silva, Demetrious Johnson, and Fedor Emelianenko.
“I think I might fight four times this year, win all four of those fights,” Jones suggested. And should that happen, “I don’t think you can argue with that. I think it would be just over. The argument would be just over.”
“Where I’m at right now, it’s hard to debate. Just resume wise, I just don’t think anyone’s been able to fight the level of competition that I’ve fought,” he later added. “Demetrious Johnson, for example, it’s not his fault he didn’t have legends in his division. But I did have legends in my division. And I beat them all. At a very young age at that.”
“And I continue to do it ten years into it,” concluded Jon Jones. “I know who I am.”
Jon Jones returns to action against Anthony Smith this Saturday, March 2 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs live on PPV.
