Jon Jones can now add another accolade to his already impressive collection.
During the broadcast of UFC 290 on Saturday, it was revealed that Jones has been honored with the ESPY for the 2023 UFC Fighter of the Year. This notable achievement came after surpassing his fellow titleholders Leon Edwards, Islam Makhachev, and the recently retired Amanda Nunes.
This marks Jones' first ESPY win, although he had previously been nominated four times in the now-discontinued Best Fighter category, which encompassed both boxers and MMA fighters. In those instances, he was unable to secure the award, falling short against Floyd Mayweather three times and once against Manny Pacquiao.
There was no denying Jones this year, particularly after his triumphant return to the octagon at UFC 285 in March. In his first fight after a hiatus of over three years, the former light heavyweight champion made history by becoming a two-division champion. He achieved this feat by capturing the vacant heavyweight title with a dominant first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane.
The 2023 ESPY awards ceremony takes place July 12 in Los Angeles. Jones is also nominated for Best Comeback Athlete, while Edwards is still in the running for Best Championship Performance for his incredible fifth-round knockout of Kamaru Usman at UFC 278.