Jon Jones

Iowa Central Community College

Jonathan Dwight Jones (born July 19, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Heavyweight Champion.

Jones was born on July 19, 1987, in Rochester, New York.

His father Arthur is a pastor at Mount Sinai Church of God in Christ in Binghamton, New York.

Arthur discouraged Jon's fighting career, "I wanted him to preach. I tried to discourage him from being a fighter. I told him you don't want to do that. You can do other things. Be a pastor."

A professional competitor since 2008, he is a former two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, holding the title from March 2011 to April 2015 and from December 2018 to August 2020.

Jones made his professional MMA debut in April 2008.

He amassed an undefeated record of 6–0 over a period of three months, finishing all of his opponents.

In his last bout before signing with the UFC, Jones defeated Moyses Gabin at BCX 5 for the USKBA Light Heavyweight Championship.

He won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Jones made his UFC debut against André Gusmão at UFC 87 on August 9, 2008.

Jones had accepted the deal on two weeks' notice as a late replacement for Tomasz Drwal.

Jones won via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, and 30–27), using takedowns and unorthodox striking, such as spinning elbows and a spinning back kick.

In his second UFC match, Jones took on veteran Stephan Bonnar at UFC 94 on January 31, 2009.

Jones secured multiple takedowns on Bonnar, even suplexing him to the mat, and connecting with a back elbow that hurt Bonnar badly.

He appeared fatigued in the third round but won the fight by unanimous decision.

Jones's third fight was against Jake O'Brien at UFC 100 on July 11, 2009.

Jones controlled the majority of the match and eventually secured a modified guillotine choke, causing O'Brien to tap out.

In September 2009, Jones was rewarded for his victories by signing a new, four-fight contract with the UFC.

Between 2015 and 2017, Jones was involved in several controversies and lost his title three times as a result of disciplinary action.

He was first stripped of his title and removed from the official rankings by the UFC in 2015 after he was arrested on felony hit-and-run charges.

Jones also held the interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship in 2016.

As of November 7, 2023, he is #2 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.

Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history with his title victory over Maurício Rua at age 23.

He holds many UFC records in the light heavyweight division, including the most title defenses, most wins, and longest win streak.

During much of his championship reign, Jones has been widely considered to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Never stopped nor outscored during his career, Jones's only professional loss is a controversial disqualification against Matt Hamill—a result that Hamill and UFC President Dana White dispute.

His subsequent returns to the UFC in 2016 and 2017 saw him emerge victorious in title bouts against Saint-Preux">Ovince Saint Preux and Daniel Cormier, but were both cut short by Jones testing positive for banned substances and receiving further suspensions, with the latter reversed to a 'no contest'.

After his 2017 suspension was lifted, Jones reclaimed the championship in 2018 by defeating Alexander Gustafsson.

Jon's mother, Camille, died in 2017 at the age of 55, after a long battle with diabetes.

Jon was one of four children.

His older brother, Arthur, is a former American football defensive lineman who played for the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins, while his younger brother, Chandler, last played as an outside linebacker for the Las Vegas Raiders.

His older sister, Carmen, died of a brain tumor before her 18th birthday.

Before beginning his MMA career, Jones was a stand-out high school wrestler and state champion at Union-Endicott High School in Endicott, New York.

He also played football as a defensive lineman; due to his slight frame, his coach nicknamed him "Bones".

Jones won a NJCAA wrestling national championship at Iowa Central Community College.

After transferring to Morrisville State College to study Criminal Justice, he dropped out of college to begin his MMA career.

He voluntarily vacated the title in 2020 amid a pay dispute with White and cited intent to move up to heavyweight.

In 2023, after over three years off, Jones returned and won the UFC Heavyweight Championship after defeating Ciryl Gane.

Jones is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists in history, an opinion that is also seconded by UFC President Dana White.