Jon Jones

At 37 years old, Jon Jones has this physical status:

Jonathan Dwight Jones (born July 19, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist who has signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

He is widely regarded as one of the top mixed martial artists in the United States, and he is the current and two-time UFC Light Heavyweight champion.

He has been champion since December 29, 2018, and he has also been champion from March 20, 2011, to April 28, 2015.

Jones also competed in the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, which was also a contest.

Jones became the first champion since the UFC introduced weight classes in August 19, 2019 at age 23, with his victory over Mauro Rua in 2011.

He has set several UFC records in the light heavyweight division, including the most titles, most victories, longest win streak, and the most submission victories.

Jones has been regarded as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter during a large portion of his championship tenure.

Jones' sole professional loss is a volatile disqualification against Matt Hamill, which has resulted in several scandals and loss of his position three times as a result of discipline.

After being arrested on felony hit-and-run charges, he was first stripped of his rank and dropped from the official rankings by the United Nations in 2015.

His subsequent returns to the UFC in 2016 and 2017 saw him win in championship matches against Ovince Saint Preux and Daniel Cormier, but Jones' return to the sport was cut short by him testing positive for banned drugs and receiving further suspensions, with the former being suspended to a 'no contest.'

Jones regained the championship in 2018 after his 2017 suspension was lifted by defeating Alexander Gustafsson and successfully defended it in his two subsequent fights.

Early life

Jones was born in Rochester, New York, on July 19, 1987. Arthur Binghamton, New York, is a pastor at Mount Sinai Church of God in Christ. "I wanted him to preach" Arthur discouraged Jon's fighting career, but I wanted him to preach." I tried to discourage him from being a fighter. I told him that you don't want to do that. You can do other things. Be a pastor." Camille, Jon's mother, died of diabetes at the age of 55 in 2017.

Jon was one of four children. Arthur is a retired American football defensive lineman who competed for the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, and Washington Redskins, while his younger brother, Chandler, is an outside linebacker for the Las Vegas Raiders. Carmen, his older sister, died of a brain tumor before her eighth birthday.

Personal life

Leah, born in 2008; Carmen Nicole Jones, born in 2009; and Olivia Haven, born in 2013. Jones said in a family interview with Joe Rogan on December 1, 2016, implying that he had four children (ages 9, 8, 6 and 3), indicating a daughter who was born before Leah. Jones revealed on Twitter on February 23, 2022, that his fianceé had left him around two months before.

Jones is a Christian.

Jones said he was sexually assaulted as a youth.

Jones was en route to Great Falls Historic Park in Paterson, New Jersey, where he planned to meditate for several hours before his fight against Maurico "Shogun" Rua at UFC 128. He was joined by his mentors Mike Winkeljohn and Greg Jackson. Jones noticed an elderly couple screaming for assistance as their driver was about to dismiss them off. The woman told Winkeljohn that a man smashed her car window and had run away with her GPS. Jones, along with his two mentors, tripped him and dragged him before the police arrived and held him down until the police arrived.

Jones became the first mixed martial artist to be sponsored by Nike on an international basis on August 8, 2012. He is also the first MMA fighter to own his own shoe collection, and the first MMA fighter to represent Gatorade and MuscleTech in the Octagon. Jones revealed on December 16, 2014 that he had signed a Reebok sponsorship contract. However, Reebok ended their sponsorship following Jones' involvement in a hit-and-run incident on April 29, 2015. Jones lost his MuscleTech sponsorship the next day.

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Mixed martial arts career

Jones, a standout high school wrestler and state champion at Union-Endicott High School in upstate New York, was a standout high school wrestler and state champion before beginning his MMA career. He also played football as a defensive lineman, but his coach nicknamed him "Bones" due to his small frame. Jones captured the NJCAA national championship at Iowa Central Community College. He dropped out of college to begin his MMA career after attending Morrisville State College to learn Criminal Justice.

Jones made his professional MMA debut in April 2008. He finished all of his opponents with an undefeated record of 6–0 over a three-month stretch. Jones defeated Moyses Gabin in his last match before signing with the UFC, defeating them at BCX 5 for the USKBA Light Heavyweight Championship. In the second round, he secured the fight via TKO.

On August 9, 2008, Jones made his UFC debut against Andre Gusmo at UFC 87. As a late replacement for Tomasz Drwal, Jones accepted the offer on two weeks' notice. Jones won unanimously (30–27, 29–28, and 30–27), using takedowns and unconventional strikes such as spinning elbows and a spinning back kick.

Jones took on veteran Stephan Bonnar at UFC 94 on January 31, 2009. Jones landed multiple takedowns on Bonnar, including suplexing him to the ground, as well as a back elbow that injured Bonnar badly. In the third round, he looked drained, but he won the match by unanimous vote.

On July 11, 2009, Jones' third fight was against Jake O'Brien at UFC 100. Jones dominated the majority of the game and eventually secured a modified guillotine choke, prompting O'Brien to call off. Jones was rewarded for his victories in September 2009 by the UFC in a new, four-fight deal.

Jones defeated fellow light heavyweight Matt Hamill in the Ultimate Fighter: The Ultimate Fighter: Finale on December 5, 2009. Jones defeated Hamill by using his wrestling to disorient Hamill's shoulder and pounding him with strikes. However, Jones would be disqualified for using unlawful 12-6 elbows. Jones was only suspended a point from the round under Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, and the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts barred downward elbow strikes. However, Hamill was unable to function due to his dislocated shoulder. As a result, the replay simulation was revisited, revealing that Jones' elbows had damaged Hamill's already bloody and laced nose. This was the first time Nevada has used its recently enacted instant replay law, in which the referee's decision was confirmed by the commission, which used a slow-motion replay to assess the elbows. Dana White, the UFC, was furious that referee Steve Mazagatti ruled the match as a loss for Jones, claiming that it should have been a no contest. In 2019, White said he was still trying to get the result reversed to a no contest by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

On March 21, 2010, Jones defeated Brandon Vera at UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones. He won the first round by TKO after an elbow to Vera's face was followed by various punches. In three countries, the elbow that was used to stop the fight also broke Vera's face. Jones also received the "Knockout of the Night" award.

In 1:52 of the first round, Jones defeated former IFL Light Heavyweight Champion Vladimir Matyushenko by TKO with elbows, the first round's first round, UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko. If Dana White were to beat Matyushenko, he promised him a "massive step up in the competition." "Vladimir Matyushenko is a guy I have a lot of respect for and I didn't expect it to happen so quickly," White said after the match with Matyushenko. Jones is the real deal, and he just soared to the top ten in the world today. It was solidified tonight. ... He's got to keep his head together, stay focused, and keep doing all the right things in preparation. He's resourceful, well-looking, and a mess. This kid is going to do well, and he's going to make a lot of money.

Jones said he wanted a "top-three challenger" for his next fight after defeating Matyushenko. Jones revealed in an interview with Inside MMA that he would face the winner of Antônio Rogério No. 1 versus Ryan Bader. Jones had previously been invited to a match with Nostra, but decided against it later. Jones also said in the Inside MMA interview that he had been warned by Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta that if he made his next two fights, he would almost guarantee a championship shot.

Jones will meet undefeated Ultimate Fighter winner Ryan Bader at UFC 126 shortly on February 5, 2011. Jones handed Bader his first professional loss after defeating him via submission in the second round after dominating Bader in the first round. Jones was given the "Submission of the Night" award.

Rashad Evans, the title contender and Jones' training partner, had suffered a knee injury in preparation and would not be able to participate in his scheduled match with UFC light heavyweight champion Maura Rua. In a post-fight interview, Jones was told by Joe Rogan that he would replace Evans in the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship fight. Jones became the youngest UFC champion ever to face Rua at 2:37 of Round 3, on March 19, 2011. Shogun was dominated in three rounds after suffering a horrific early flying knee injury to the champion. The champion's knees were shot and kneeled by a body shot and knee to the head, causing the referee to step in and halt the match.

Jones' first title defense was supposed to take place on August 6, 2011 against Rashad Evans, his longtime companion and teammate, but Jones was forced to cancel due to a hand injury. When it was originally predicted that the hand injury would require surgery, Jones decided against rest and recovery without surgery, but doctors advised against surgery after further consultations. Jones was originally thought to have kept him out of action until late 2011, but instead he took his first title defense against Quinton Jackson on September 24, 2011. In the 4th round, Jones defeated Jackson by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:14; He became the first UFC fighter to submit Jackson in the process. Jones said that this was his favorite fight up to that point.

Jones vs. Evans was in the ring for the second time, and the fight was slated for December 10, 2011, at UFC 140. However, Evans' lingering thumb injury cost him another championship chance, and Jones instead met Lyoto Machida at the same venue. Jones defended the light heavyweight title at UFC 140 by being rattled by Machida in the first round, beating Machida at 4:26 of the second round via technical submission (guillotine choke), causing Machida to collapse unconscious along the cage. This was the first submission failure in Machida's career.

Jones finally met his arch rival and former colleague Rashad Evans on April 21, 2012, at UFC 145, and won by unanimous resolution (49–46, 49–45, and 50–45). Dana White, who appeared at the UFC 145 post-fight press conference, has announced that Jones will be Dan Henderson, Jones' next adversary. The Jones-Henderson match was supposed to take place at UFC 151, but Henderson pulled out due to injuries, and Jones refused a late replacement fight with Chael Sonnen after his coach Greg Jackson said that it would be difficult to prepare with three training days left. UFC 151 was then cancelled. Henderson had been hospitalized three weeks before the announcement, but kept the injury under wraps as he continued to train. However, he was forced to leave following a final sparring session to evaluate his health.

Jones' decision to withdraw the battle against Sonnen was criticized. It was the first card to be cancelled in the United States' 19-year history. "This is one of the most selfish, disgusting decisions that doesn't only concern you," UFC president Dana White said on record. This is impacting 16 others' lives, their families, and their children. And, yes, children are going back to school. The list of all the things, the money that was spent for fighters to train, and the list goes on and on. I don't think this is going to make Jon Jones famous among the fans, sponsors, cable TV broadcasters, television network executives, or other fighters, as I said.

At UFC 152, a rematch with Lyoto Machida was then announced for September 22, 2012. Lyoto Machida, who had not been contacted prior to the fight, had to cancel due to a lack of time to train before the match. Jones, rather, defended the championship against Vitor Belfort at UFC 152 on September 22, 2012. Coming into the competition, Jones was a strong favorite (13-to-1) in the tournament.

Despite nearly being denied by armbar in round one, Jones defended the belt against Belfort via Americana submission in round four, equaling Chuck Liddell's number of championship defenses. Jones also received a $65,000 Submission of the Night Award for his finish in Belfort.

On Season 17 of the Ultimate Fighter, Jones was chosen to work opposite Chael Sonnen. At UFC 159, there will be a fight between the coaches taking place on April 27, 2013. Jones demonstrated a lack of interest in the game and openly denied the competition, insisting that he did not agree Sonnen was a valid candidate. Sonnen attempted to pique his interest in the case in an interview, but Jones gave him the "silent treatment" and refused to make eye contact. Jones dominated his opponents in the first round, defeating Sonnen via TKO. During the fight, however, he broke the phalanx (large toe) on his left foot. Jones tied Tito Ortiz for having the most consecutive title defenses in UFC light heavyweight history, with the victory.

On September 21, 2013, Jones faced Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165. Jones was sadly cut above the eye during the first round, but he won the back-and-forth battle by a unanimous vote (48–47, 49–46). Jones said Gustafsson gave him the most difficult match of his career, and both were admitted to the hospital for injuries. Both men had lacerations and facial swelling, but they were released from the hospital with no broken bones or serious injuries. Both fighters were given the Fight of the Night bonus for the fight. Multiple praises have been given to the match, including "an epic battle," "instant-classic," "Fight of the Year"" "the best light heavyweight title fight of all time" "one of the finest fights in UFC history." On March 8, 2020, it was announced that the fight would be inducted into the Fight Wing of the United FC Hall of Fame on July 9.

Jones was supposed to face Glover Teixeira at UFC 169 on February 1, 2014. However, UFC President Dana White declared that the announcement of the fight on that card was premature and that Jones and Teixeira will meet each other on a separate card. Jones was supposed to face Teixeira at UFC 170, which was postponed until the next day. Jones and Teixeira would meet each other at UFC 171 in Dallas, Texas, on December 4, 2013. However, the match was rescheduled again on March 15, 2014. Jones and Teixeira then took on UFC 172 on April 26, 2014. Jones won the contest by a unanimous vote (50-45, 50–45, and 50-45).

Jones will face Gustafsson again on April 27, 2014, according to UFC President Dana White, who also hinted at the possibility of the match being held in a stadium in Sweden on pay-per-view. On May 24, 2014, it was announced that the rematch would take place in Las Vegas on August 30, 2014, at UFC 177. The statement, as well as the date and location, was not official, because Gustafsson was the only one who had not agreed to watch the game. The war was also on hold on June 2; White explained that "ones don't want to fight Gustafsson" and instead expressed his displeasure with Daniel Cormier.

The Jones vs. Gustafsson rematch will take place at UFC 178 on June 5, 2014. However, Gustafsson was forced to pull out of the match due to a torn meniscus. Jones was supposed to face Daniel Cormier at UFC 178. Jones had sustained a leg injury in training, causing him to pull out on August 12, 2014. The match was postponed and finally took place on January 3, 2015 at UFC 182. Jones was victorious by majority decision (49–46, 49–46, and 49–46). He was also the first person to sue Cormier, winning three takedowns in total. Jones received his fourth Fight of the Night bonus award as a result of his win. Jones failed a drug test a month before the event, and it was later revealed that he had failed a drug test, as he had tested positive for cocaine.

(see below in Controversies)

At UFC 187, Jones was expected to defend his title against Anthony Johnson on May 23, 2015. Jones was however stripped of the belt and suspended from the UFC indefinitely in connection with a hit-and-run incident in which he crashed into a pregnant woman and then fled the scene on foot on April 28. Cormier, who lost to Jones at UFC 182 in January 2015, was swapped by the team and went on to defeat Anthony Johnson for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

Jones had been recalled to the active roster on October 23, 2015, almost six months after he was announced. On April 23, 2016, UFC 197 would host a rematch with Cormier. Cormier pulled out of the contest on April 1, citing a foot injury, and Ovince Saint Preux replaced him. Jones beat Saint Preux by a majority vote (50–44, 50–45, and 50–45).

The rematch with Cormier was postponed and expected to take place on July 9, 2016, at UFC 200. Jones was ruled out of the contest by USADA on July 6, 2016, but after a suspected doping offence, the contest was called off by USADA on June 16. Jones had been barred for one year by USADA, retroactive to July 7. Jones had been stripped of his interim title two days earlier, making him the first fighter in UFC history to be stripped of a title twice. Jones was also suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for one year on December 15, 2015.

Jones fought former MMA veteran Dan Henderson in a grappling match for the Submission Underground 2 tournament on December 14, 2016. Jones was eventually dismissed Henderson with an arm-triangle choke six minutes into the match, despite being off to a good start. Following the fight, Jones expressed an interest in competing against Chael Sonnen.

On July 29, 2017, Daniel Cormier's rematch took place at UFC 214 in Anaheim, California. Jones earned the fight and recaptured the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship by defeating them in the third round. Jones was given a Performance of the Night bonus after the fight. Jones praised Cormier as a "model champion" after the match, while acknowledging his own personal failings. Brock Lesnar was then beaten to a fight.

Jones had been flagged for a potential doping offence by USADA, owing to his sample that was obtained after weigh-ins on July 28. Turinabol, an anabolic steroids, was positive, according to the researcher. As a result, Jones was put on a provisional suspension. Both the "A" and "B" samples of Jones' tested positive for Turinabol on September 13, USADA reported. As a result, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) has officially reversed the result of the election to a no contest. Dana White, the current UFC president, made the decision to strip him of the Light Heavyweight championship and return it to Daniel Cormier.

Jones will serve a suspension of 15 months in September 2018. USADA had announced that Jones would complete a suspension of 15 months. Jones' probation was reduced by 30 months as a result of a potential suspension of 48 months, and arbitrators McLaren applied a further 3 months in relation to Jones' degree of responsibility.

Jones would return to UFC 232 on December 29, 2018, a rematch with Alexander Gustafsson for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, which was announced on October 10, 2018. Jones won the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship by beating Gustafsson by a technical foul out in the third round.

Jones faced Anthony Smith in the first defense of his second championship appearance, at UFC 235. Jones dominated the contest, but he was disqualified two points in the fourth round after landing an illegal knee to Smith's head. Jones was crowned by unanimous vote after all three judges gave him 48–44 scorecards.

In the main event at UFC 239. Jones met Thiago Santos on July 6, 2019. He won the back-and-forth match by a split decision, defending his title for the second time.

In the main event of UFC 247, Jones defeated Dominick Reyes on February 8, 2020. Jones was voted unanimously in the fight. The competition for Reyes was rated by 14 of 21 media outlets, but only 7 of Jones scored it. Jones set a new record for most UFC title fights with 14 wins, establishing a new record.

Jones said he had vacated the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship after a fight with UFC President Dana White over compensation in May 2020. Jones was aiming for a fight with heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou, but White wanted "Deontay Wilder money" in his rematch with Tyson Fury held in February 2020, referring to Wilder's estimated $25--30 million earnings. Jones revealed on social media on August 15, 2020 that he would be relinquishing the Light Heavyweight Championship as well as expressing his desire to go back to heavyweight.

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