Jon Jones moved quickly to reassert his claim as MMA’s greatest of all time after Alex Pereira’s bid for history came up short at UFC White House.
Pereira attempted to become a three-division champion in the co-main event but was knocked out in the second round by Ciryl Gane. Before the fight, UFC president Dana White had publicly stated that a successful three-division title win would place Pereira at the top of GOAT lists.
On fight night, Jones posted a short video reacting to talk that he might lose his GOAT status, then later shared and deleted a Twitter message aimed at those trying to surpass his legacy. “Thinking that you have the work ethic, the desire, the faith, and the focus to dethrone me as the GOAT of MMA,” Jones wrote, adding, “Good luck to you all.”
Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history when he first captured the light heavyweight title in 2011, and he has since held UFC belts in two divisions, including heavyweight after a 2023 submission win over Gane. His résumé includes wins over nine UFC champions, a record 16 wins in UFC title fights, and 12 overall title defenses across multiple reigns.
Jones’ career also features controversy. His only official loss came via disqualification against Matt Hamill, he was stripped of his title in 2015 following a hit-and-run incident, and a positive drug test led to his 2017 head-kick win over Daniel Cormier being changed to a no-contest. Many fighters and analysts have disagreed with the idea that Pereira could surpass Jones, and the debate continues.
