Jon Jones, the reigning UFC heavyweight champion and former light heavyweight king, is embracing his updated pound-for-pound ranking. Following his dominant third-round TKO victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in New York City, Jones moved from No. 3 to No. 2 in the UFC’s official rankings, displacing light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. He now sits just behind the top-ranked Islam Makhachev.
Despite his legendary career and reputation as one of the sport’s all-time greats, Jones, at 37 years old, expressed satisfaction with his current position.
“Being ranked No. 2 pound-for-pound at 37 years old, I’m happy with that,” Jones wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Jones’ acceptance of his ranking stands in contrast to UFC CEO Dana White’s frustration. White has publicly voiced his belief that Jones is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and has been openly critical of the rankings system, which is determined by a panel of media members.
In a recent Instagram story, White vented his dissatisfaction and hinted at replacing the current rankings system with AI-driven rankings in collaboration with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
“I have to get rid of these CLOWNS!!” White wrote. “Zuck, let’s get this AI deal done ASAP!!!!!”
A Heavyweight Legacy in the Making
Jones’ victory over Miocic marked his second win in the heavyweight division, following his submission victory over Ciryl Gane earlier this year to claim the vacant title. His latest performance further solidified his legacy as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history.
Looking ahead, fans are eagerly anticipating a potential title defense against interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, a fight that would further test Jones’ dominance in the division.
As the rankings debate continues, Jones remains focused on his achievements and his pursuit of maintaining his status as one of the best fighters of all time.