At UFC 309 last weekend, Jon Jones did what was expected of Jon Jones: dominate Stipe Miocic from the opening bell and secure a stunning finish to retain his heavyweight title.
While 'Bones' shutout performance was by no means a surprise to MMA fans who had followed his illustrious UFC career over the past 16 years, that doesn't mean experts past and present still don't applaud the GOAT's development.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Stephen A. Smith waxes lyrical about Jon 'Bones' Jones after UFC 309 KO
Following his third-round knockout against Stipe Miocic, the greatest UFC fighter of all time has risen to second in the Pound-For-Pound rankings; something that Dana White has already called on Mark Zuckerberg to help him solve with AI.
Whether you rank Jon Jones above or below lightweight king Islam Makhachev, there is no doubt that he remains arguably the greatest fighter to ever compete in the octagon.
That was the core theme of Stephen A. Smith's analysis of Jones' performance at UFC 309, with the legendary sports journalist calling him “the best in the world” during First Take.
“I think he's the best in MMA that I've ever seen, and I've always said that you have to show me to make me believe that someone is going to beat Jon 'Bones' Jones – because I just don't. see it happen.
“He's just too elite, too many weapons and too many ways he'll beat you… I'm not surprised by the outcome; Miocic is a champion and has a lot of respect for him… But Jon 'Bones' Jones is on a very, very different level.”
Co-host Shannon Shape was in complete agreement about Jones' GOAT status, explaining that there are simply no weaknesses in his game plan or insane arsenal of weapons; an arsenal that now includes a brutal spinning back kick.
“He is elite offensively, has superior wrestling skills, he can submit you, he has the elbows and the spinning back kick… He has no weakness [in his] offence.”
Stephen A. Smith believes Alex Pereira has 'no chance' of beating Jon Jones
While Stephen A. Smith was extremely complimentary of Jones' skills, there was one thing he took issue with at UFC 309: his call-up of light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
“The only thing I don't agree with Jones on is that he wants to fight Alex Pereira. Let me say this: that brother is something special, but he's too small. I know he has the power, but he can't mess with Jon 'Bones' Jones.
'He has no chance; I just don't see it… With Jon Jones in the heavyweight position and you're fighting that guy, he doesn't have a chance – that's my only disagreement.”
Pereira himself has fallen to #3 in the Pound-For-Pound rankings under Jones after UFC 309, although 'Poatan' is happy with his third-place finish behind the legendary ex-ruler of his division.
'Look, I understand that everyone wants to see it [him versus Tom] Aspinall and I hope he succeeds,” Sharpe said in response to Smith's criticism: “But guess what, he'll beat him and then go try to fight someone else.
“At some point you're going to have to realize what Dana White and a lot of the greats in MMA have said – that he's the greatest, he's the GOAT, champion since he was 23 and he's 1732047492 38!”
Interestingly enough, Dana White appeared to make a surprising about-face regarding the potential superfight between Pereira and Jones, stating at the post-fight press conference that there was “no way” he would make that fight next. .
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