For the third time since December, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is set for action when he returns to the octagon for UFC 239 on Saturday.
Jones (24-1 MMA, 18-1 UFC) will attempt to put even greater distance between his career indiscretions with another successful performance when he puts his belt up for grabs against Thiago Santos (21-6 MMA, 13-5 UFC) in the pay-per-view main event, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
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 239.
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General statistics
Jones is ranked No. 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light-heavyweight rankings and No. 3 pound-for-pound.
He competes in his 21st UFC light-heavyweight bout, passing Ryan Bader and Rashad Evans for the most appearances in divisional history.
His current 16-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 16-fight unbeaten streak in UFC competition is tied with Anderson Silva for the longest in company history.
His 18 UFC light-heavyweight victories are the most in divisional history.
His 10 stoppage victories in UFC light-heavyweight competition are tied with Glover Teixeira for the most in modern divisional history.
His five submission victories in UFC light-heavyweight competition are tied with Teixeira for 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 two UFC light-heavyweight title reigns are tied with Randy Couture for most in divisional history.
His first title reign of 1,501 days is the longest in UFC light-heavyweight history.
His 12 victories in UFC title fights are tied with Demetrious Johnson for second most in company history behind Georges St-Pierre (13).
His eight consecutive light-heavyweight title defenses during his first reign 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 1,669 total strikes landed in UFC light-heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
His 1,300 significant strikes landed in UFC light-heavyweight competition are the most in divisional history.
His 138 significant strikes landed against 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 57.3 percent in UFC light-heavyweight competition is the second-highest among active fighters in the weight class behind Nikita Krylov (57.6 percent).
His significant strike defense rate of 64.9 percent in UFC light heavyweight competition is highest among active fighters in the weight class.
His 40 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 20-fight career, with 35 of 37 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 third best in UFC history behind Irene Aldana (95.8 percent) and Jimmie Rivera (95.5 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 to win two fights via standing submissions. Patrick Smith also accomplished the feat.
His total fight time of 4:50:15 in UFC light-heavyweight competition is most in divisional history.
For more on UFC 239, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
