The ongoing debate about the greatest fighter in MMA history often takes center stage on social media, and UFC president Dana White didn't shy away from expressing his opinion on Lex Fridman's podcast.
Without hesitation, White pointed to Jon Jones (27-1-0) as the undisputed champion.
"He has never been defeated," White emphasized, praising Jones's dominance in the octagon. However, White's declaration conveniently overlooks Jones's disqualification against Matt Hammill in 2009, a fact he later clarified. "He destroyed everybody at light heavyweight, which at the time was the toughest weight class in the company and the sport. And then he moved up to heavyweight, he won easily at heavyweight... Jon Jones, there's no debate. Nobody can debate who is the best of all time. He's never lost. He's never been beaten in the octagon."
Jones, also known as 'Bones', last fought against Cyril Gane in March 2023, securing victory in the first round. However, a pectoral injury sidelined him from UFC 295 in November, marking over a year since his last bout. Contractual disputes with Dana White previously kept him out of action for up to three years (2020-2023).
Despite the setbacks, White remains steadfast in recognizing Jones's supremacy. "You also have to take into account the longevity... it's undeniable. You can hate all you want. Jon Jones is the greatest of all time." Jones made his UFC debut in 2008 against Andre Gusmao, and at 36, he continues to dominate the sport, holding the record for the youngest UFC champion in history at the age of 23.
While Jones reigns supreme in White's eyes, he acknowledges the prowess of Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0-0), who retired in 2020 after defeating Justin Gaethje. "I think Khabib had the potential to be in the running for this. He just didn't stick around very long (2012 to 2020 in UFC). First of all, he had injuries that, you know, he should have suffered much earlier if he hadn't had the injuries that he had and the setbacks in his career, but there's no question - Khabib is one of the all-time greats," White concluded.