Jon Jones considered Ilia Topuria ‘first threat’ to his ‘GOAT’ status until loss to Justin Gaethje
MMA Fighting • • sports
Key Points:
- Jon Jones, regarded as the greatest MMA fighter of all time, identified former UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria as a strong candidate to eventually surpass him in the sport.
- Before his recent loss, Topuria was undefeated, a two-division champion, and had victories over several future UFC Hall of Famers, but Justin Gaethje stopped his streak by defeating him in the fourth round at the UFC White House card.
- Despite the setback, Jones praised Topuria's boxing skills, power, confidence, and character, highlighting that Topuria fights out of passion rather than financial need.
- Jones noted that Topuria is actively working on his recovery and comeback, sharing the same manager and showing determination to return to winning form.
- While Jones hopes others will eventually break his records, he also feels a personal desire to maintain his legacy for his family's honor.
