While his name is often one of the first brought up in the discussion of greatest MMA fighter of all time, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones does not consider himself No. 1.
At Thursday’s UFC 239 media day in Las Vegas, Jones fielded questions from reporters. When he was asked what makes him the best ever, Jones’ response surprised many.
“I don’t feel like I’m the best ever,” Jones said. “I don’t. I feel like I have a lot to prove, and I feel like if I can retire doing the right things and continuing to win fights, then maybe I’ll allow other people to call me that.”
Who then, does Jones consider to be the best mixed martial artist of all time? Look no further than “The Spider.”
“Anderson Silva,” Jones said. “To me, he’s my best ever.”
Jones (24-1 MMA, 18-1) has not lost in his last sixteen UFC appearances. The 31-year-old’s lone setback was of his own doing, when he was disqualified in controversial fashion after he struck opponent Matt Hamill with illegal downward elbows.
“Bones” has defended the UFC light heavyweight title nine times during the course of two different title reigns, defeating the likes of Daniel Cormier, Alexander Gustafsson, Rashad Evans, and Vitor Belfort, among others, along the way.
Silva (34-10 MMA, 17-6 UFC) was the UFC middleweight champion from October 2006 to July 2013. The now 44-year-old Brazilian defended his title 10 times in that stretch – the most in UFC middleweight history. He defeated the likes of Dan Henderson, Belfort, Rich Franklin, and Demian Maia, to name a few.
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