Jon Jones, Title Defense History: The Age Gap

['Rocky']

Jones has had a mostly dominant run as a title defender with only a couple of hiccup fights. What I've always found to be the most interesting thing about this is the fact that Jones tends to defend against light heavyweights who are in their mid-late 30's, past their prime. But when he appears slow and tentative or is even outperformed, it is against fighters closer to his own age, and in the one instance he actually fought someone his age, many say he actually lost. And aside from Gustafsson, the fighter that Jones fought closest to his age was OSP, who is over 5 years older than Jones. Jones has never fought an opponent younger than he is in a title fight, and has always had the size advantage.



Jon Jones, 24
Rampage Jackson, 33

Jon Jones, 24
Lyoto Machida, 33

Jon Jones, 24
Rashad Evans, 33

Jon Jones, 25
Vitor Belfort, 35

Jon Jones, 25
Chael Sonnen, 36

Jon Jones, 26
Alexander Gustafsson, 26

Jon Jones, 26
Glover Teixeira, 35

Jon Jones, 27
Daniel Cormier, 36

Jon Jones, 28
Ovince St. Preux, 33

Jon Jones, 30
Daniel Cormier, 38




People said Fedor was washed up at 33 when he was choked out by Werdum.

 

[Arm Barbarian]

 

['Rocky']

I got 84 inches worth. Pretty damn good, eh?

 

[La Elefante]

 

[BenRichards]

Sssshhhhhhh nobody like facts about bones

 

[Khabib Fan]

Jones needs to beat Gus "again". There is a huge question mark over his head for the way that last fight went. I still don't see how the judges scored it in favor of Jon.

 

[mudrubble]

Jones has had a mostly dominant run as a title defender with only a couple of hiccup fights. What I've always found to be the most interesting thing about this is the fact that Jones tends to defend against light heavyweights who are in their mid-late 30's, past their prime. But when he appears slow and tentative or is even outperformed, it is against fighters closer to his own age, and in the one instance he actually fought someone his age, many say he actually lost. And aside from Gustafsson, the fighter that Jones fought closest to his age was OSP, who is over 5 years older than Jones. Jones has never fought an opponent younger than he is in a title fight, and has always had the size advantage.



Jon Jones, 24
Rampage Jackson, 33

Jon Jones, 24
Lyoto Machida, 33

Jon Jones, 24
Rashad Evans, 33

Jon Jones, 25
Vitor Belfort, 35

Jon Jones, 25
Chael Sonnen, 36

Jon Jones, 26
Alexander Gustafsson, 26

Jon Jones, 26
Glover Teixeira, 35

Jon Jones, 27
Daniel Cormier, 36

Jon Jones, 28
Ovince St. Preux, 33

Jon Jones, 30
Daniel Cormier, 38




People said Fedor was washed up at 33 when he was choked out by Werdum.

All you're proving is that of all the top comp at LHW, he's the only one who's so young.

Yes, he's super gifted.

 

['Rocky']

Jones needs to beat Gus "again". There is a huge question mark over his head for the way that last fight went. I still don't see how the judges scored it in favor of Jon.

It was close, and I wouldn't call it a robbery, but the judges have had a mentality of "you have to decisively beat the current title holder to earn the decision". Not a fan of that.

 

['Rocky']

All you're proving is that of all the top comp at LHW, he's the only one who's so young.

Yes, he's super gifted.

Or maybe the light heavyweight division absolutely sucks?

Nah, this thread was not to bash Jon. Only to show the incredibly large age gap that I've never heard anybody mention.

 

[DWAYNEAMERICA]

The funny thing is that before every one of these fights, with a future hall of famer, Jones haters vehemently predicted his demise.

Interesting how they only became "worn out has-beens" after Jones beat them

 

[Cuauhtemoc]

Eh, it's not like 30 something is old, in fact 30 something guys are usually beating the younger guys. Gustafsson himself lost to older guys like AJ and Cormier.

 

[mudrubble]

Or maybe the light heavyweight division absolutely sucks?

Nah, this thread was not to bash Jon. Only to show the incredibly large age gap that I've never heard anybody mention.

Every division that ever had a dominant champ has "sucked" on Sherdog. So yes, by that definition, now that the dominant champ is back, it also sucks.

If Alex somehow got the belt it would suddenly not suck. Just sayin...

 

[Mohawk Mauler]

Who was saying Fedor was washed up after the loss to Werdum? Smh

Definitely after the official punching bag of the ufc knocked him senseless a few times.

 

['Rocky']

Every division that ever had a dominant champ has "sucked" on Sherdog. So yes, by that definition, now that the dominant champ is back, it also sucks.

If Alex somehow got the belt it would suddenly not suck. Just sayin...

Calm down. Iz joke.

 

['Rocky']

Who was saying Fedor was washed up after the loss to Werdum? Smh

Sherdog.

You were registered at the time, how did you not see it?

 

[Mohawk Mauler]

Sssshhhhhhh nobody like facts about bones

So whats that saying about all these old guys keeping all the younger guys in the lower rankings? Lol

At least Bones wasnt choked out like a chump or quick to tap like a loud mouth bully.
{<Mcgoat}

 

['Rocky']

The funny thing is that before every one of these fights, with a future hall of famer, Jones haters vehemently predicted his demise.

Interesting how they only became "worn out has-beens" after Jones beat them

Uh-huh. Everyone vehemently predicted that Chael Sonnen, Rashad Evans, Quinton Jackson, Vitor Belfort and Ovince St. Preux would start the fall of Jon Jones.

You've been on sherdog for one Jones fight.

 

[Mohawk Mauler]

Sherdog.

You were registered at the time, how did you not see it?

I mean yeah of course all the anti pride guys,but cmon lets be realistic outside of that we all knew it was a fluke at that time.

Fedor played with fire and got burned,now loosening up the wagon wheels while driving full tilt is a completly different story...Bigfoot,Hendo,and the ufc official punching bag.lol

 

[OmegaRugal]

It was close, and I wouldn't call it a robbery, but the judges have had a mentality of "you have to decisively beat the current title holder to earn the decision". Not a fan of that.

Frankie Edgar got his first title without decisively besting the champ... but yea what you said is usually the case.

 

[Senzo Tanaka]

It's not Jones' fault that the division is old but I definitely think there's something to it. The one fight that he had trouble in, the guy happened to the same age and have the same physical gifts that he had.

Anyone that thinks age isn't a factor is naive or delusional. A great 25 year old beats a great 35 year old all things being equal every single time.