Jon Anik believes Jon Jones has already surpassed the achievements of boxing legend Floyd Mayweather.
'Money' retired with a perfect 50-0 record after winning world titles in five different weight classes and defeating Manny Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya.
Many fans consider Floyd Mayweather the greatest fighter of all time, but the UFC play-by-play commentator believes Jon Jones has already pushed himself past boxing's pay-per-view king.
'Bones' has just one blemish on his 28-1 (1NC) MMA record. In 2009, he suffered a highly controversial disqualification loss to Matt Hamill when he landed an illegal elbow while manhandling his opponent.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Jon Jones or Floyd Mayweather: Who is the greatest?
The current UFC heavyweight dominated at light heavyweight for a decade before moving up a division to defeat Ciryl Gane and Stipe Miocic, whom he knocked out at UFC 309 in November.
A unification bout with interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall appears to be next, but Anik insists that however the fight goes, Jones' legacy is safe.
Even though he won't end his career with a perfect record like boxing greats Joe Calzaghe and Floyd Mayweather, the fan-favorite UFC commentator believes Jones has surpassed them by testing himself more.
“I think with regards to Joe Calzaghe and Floyd Mayweather, Jon Jones has already pushed himself past those guys,” Anik told MMA Junkie.
“Even if people want to belittle Stipe's win because it happened at age 42, I don't think Jon Jones can really accomplish anything more. But there is financial gain to be made.”
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
Jon Anik: Jon Jones deserves a big payday for the fight with Tom Aspinall
Jones has been open and honest about his distaste for fighting Aspinall.
The 37-year-old would prefer to fight light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, but Dana White ruled out that bout immediately after UFC 309.
Aspinall recently told Bloody Elbow that discussions with the UFC are going well behind the scenes and that it is now “very likely” he will face Jones in 2025.
For Anik, the fight depends on how much the UFC is willing to pay the man widely considered the greatest in MMA history.
He added: “What he wants, like that $30-40-50 million dollar payday that he so deserves right now because in heavyweight MMA anything can happen.
“And sure, in light heavyweight MMA, anything can happen, but the consequences are so dire when it comes to four-ounce gloves that these guys throw away.”
Related posts
Comments