A little more than two months after his most recent bout, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones makes a quick turnaround at UFC 235 on Saturday for the first defense in his new title reign.
Jones (23-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) will attempt to put more distance between his career indiscretions with another successful performance when he puts his belt up for grabs against Anthony Smith (31-13 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in the pay-per-view main event, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas following prelims on ESPN and UFC Fight Pass.
With another significant contest in Jones’ career just around the corner, there’s no better time to take a closer look at everything he’s achieved to date and what records are in store if he continues his championship form at UFC 235.
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General statistics
Jones is ranked No. 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light-heavyweight rankings and No. 5 pound-for-pound.
He competes in his 20th UFC light-heavyweight bout, tied with Ryan Bader and Rashad Evans for the most appearances in divisional history.
His current 15-fight UFC unbeaten streak in light-heavyweight competition is the longest active streak in the division and longest in the history of the weight class. It’s also the longest UFC unbeaten streak among active fighters.
His 15-fight unbeaten streak in UFC competition is the second longest in company history behind Anderson Silva (16).
His 17 UFC light-heavyweight victories are the most in divisional history.
His 10 stoppage victories in UFC light-heavyweight competition are most in modern divisional history.
His five submission victories in UFC light-heavyweight competition are the most in divisional history.
He’s defeated six fighters who once held an undisputed UFC belt, the most of any active fighter in the organization.
His eight fight-night bonuses for UFC light-heavyweight bouts are tied with Mauricio Rua for the most in divisional history.
His reach of 84.5 inches is longest in the light-heavyweight division and longest among active UFC fighters.
Championship statistics
At 23 years and eight months old, Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history when he defeated “Shogun” Rua for the light-heavyweight title at UFC 128 in March 2011.
At 24 years, two months and five days old, he became the youngest fighter in UFC history to defend a title when he defeated Quinton Jackson at UFC 135.
His title reign of 1,501 days is the longest in UFC light-heavyweight history.
His 11 victories in UFC title fights are tied with Anderson Silva for third most in company history behind Georges St-Pierre (13) and Demetrious Johnson (12).
His eight consecutive light-heavyweight title defenses are a record for the weight class.
His streak of eight consecutive UFC title defenses is fourth longest in history behind Johnson (11), Silva (10) and St-Pierre (nine).
His four UFC title defenses in a 364-day span between Sept. 24, 2011, and Sept. 22, 2012, are the most by any champion in modern UFC history.
His six stoppage victories in UFC title fights are tied with Ronda Rousey for fourth most in company history behind Silva (nine), Matt Hughes (eight) and Johnson (seven).
In-fight statistics
Jones has never been knocked down or submitted in MMA competition.
His 1,431 total strikes landed in UFC light-heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
His 1,175 significant strikes landed in UFC competition are the most in divisional history.
His 138 significant strikes landed against Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 were the second most ever in a UFC light-heavyweight title fight. Daniel Cormier holds the record with 140 significant strikes vs. Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 192.
His significant strike accuracy of 55.9 percent in UFC light-heavyweight competition is the second highest among active fighters in the weight class behind Nikita Krylov (57.2 percent).
His significant strike defense rate of 65.7 percent in UFC light-heavyweight competition is highest among active fighters in the weight class.
His 37 takedowns landed in UFC light-heavyweight competition are fourth most in divisional history behind Corey Anderson (52), Rashad Evans (50) and Ryan Bader (46).
He’s been taken down only twice in his 19-fight career, with 35 of 37 in takedowns defended (95 percent) in his UFC tenure. Gustafsson dragged him to the mat once at UFC 165. Cormier also took him down once – a slam he immediately got up from – at UFC 182.
His takedown defense rate of 95 percent is the second best in UFC history behind Tyron Woodley (97.6 percent).
He’s one of three fighters in UFC history to earn two fourth-round finishes. He accomplished the feat at UFC 152 and UFC 135.
His 10 submission attempts in UFC light-heavyweight competition are the third most in divisional history behind Renato Sobral (15) and Stephan Bonnar (13).
He’s one of only two fighters in UFC history (Patrick Smith) to win two fights via a standing submission.
His total fight time of 4:25:15 in UFC light-heavyweight competition is most in divisional history.
For more on UFC 235, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
FightMetric research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
