There is a reason why Jon Jones is there on almost everyone’s list of MMA GOATs. He has been in the UFC since 2008 and has only one loss in his pro career, and even that was due to a disqualification. He has seen and faced almost three generations of fighters and has rarely been pushed to his limits inside the octagon. However, there is one name that gave him a hard time surviving.
Jon Jones Revealed His Toughest UFC Opponent So Far
Jones was recently seen in Thailand, enjoying his life and also doing some business there. He attended a training camp at the “Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA” gym in Phuket, where he trained and interacted with some fighters.
During a Q&A session, someone asked Jones who his best opponent has been so far. The question wasn’t about who was the most famous or hyped, but about who really pushed him to his limit. The heavyweight champion didn’t waste much time and replied, “My best opponent would have to have been, what’s his name, Alexander Gustafsson. He was my best opponent.”
“He was my best opponent. He really pushed me. He was the only guy to take me down in the UFC, and man, he cut me open and made me dig really hard,” Jones added.
Gustafsson and Jones fought twice, but the fight Jon was referring to was their first clash at UFC 165. Their second meeting at UFC 232 was much easier for Jones, as he won via TKO in the third round.
Their first fight happened in 2013, and it was a five-round bloodbath. At first, Jones looked like he was in control, but Gustafsson turned things around, and by the end, both were completely exhausted. Although Jones won the fight via decision, his face was bruised, cut, and swollen. Even today, some fans think the decision was controversial.
Some Other Formidable Opponents of Jones
Apart from Gustafsson, the UFC GOAT has faced some tough opponents. One of them is his archrival, Daniel Cormier. Their first fight took place in 2015 at UFC 182, which ended in a decision win for Jones.
Unlike many of his past opponents, Cormier wasn’t intimidated by him. DC gave a hard time to “Bones” with his grappling and endurance, and their animosity before the fight made it even bigger. Their second fight wasn’t much trouble for Jones, as he finished it with a TKO, although it was later ruled a no-contest because he tested positive for PEDs.
Then there is Jones vs. Vitor Belfort that took place at UFC 152. Belfort almost pulled off a huge upset in the first round when he locked in a tight armbar that stretched Jones’ elbow. Even Jones later said that the submission was really close. However, after that round, the GOAT came back to his form.
“Fighting Dominick Reyes was like fighting a man in a room full of mirrors.”- Jon Jonespic.twitter.com/i0XgdmuFwa
— Kenny B 📟🏝 #3Wins3KOs (@KennyBalii) April 24, 2024
There is one more fight that comes close to his Gustafsson fight, and that is his fight with Dominick Reyes at UFC 247. Reyes’ sharp combos and side-to-side movement caused trouble for Jones, and he landed more strikes than Jones in the first three rounds. “Bones” mostly relied on his leg kicks and clinch work. A lot of fans and analysts thought Reyes actually won.
Some other names in the list could be Thiago Santos, Lyoto Machida, and Rashad Evans.