When did Jon Jones start to become a GOAT candidate?

[Savagewolf]

I'm not sure exactly when. To me, it was probably just from the cumulation of win after win in dominating fashion. I still think he's a turd of a human being, but fighter-wise he is clearly one of the GOATs.

It's a shame that he had to tarnish his reputation with his outside issues.

 

[textwarrior]

when he was born I guess?

Seriously...JJ rose like a freight train, I was watching him rise with only few fights and thought dam his reach...But was not sure until what he did to Stephen Bonnar as far as rag dolling him gave me a great indication in who he might be. Well, he only seem to get better...He gets belt from Shogun which I was not sure who would win, then Beat Rampage and I was pretty much sure he had the belt for a long time. Again, DC was that guy...but nope...Yeah beating DC in that division gave me the nod.I think JJ just controlled or look too comfortable against his opponents in all his fights. Machida and GUS 1 were the most interesting to me. I do question his late run vs Smith, Santos, and Reyes as a slipping away JJ due to maybe life style but he looked , imo, sloppier than before. One reason IDK what to think of him at HW. GOAT for looking like the winner in all his fights and the ability to beat his opponents...he clearly looked in control in that cage.

 

[AmericanUppercut]

GSP is the GOAT.
The rest are tied for 2nd.

Spoiler

Jones is the DOPE GOAT, but that is not a thing, only me jerking around with words.

 

[icemun]

When he scored his best win: TKO for life win over USADA via pulsing exemption.

no one ever had done something that impressive before in this sports history

Hell Pride ENCOURAGED Steroids!!!

Fuck a pulse they were gorging and bathing in ROIDS

They were experts when Jones was still in elementary school!

 

[AdamWarlock]

Given that double-digit title defenses probably mean you've been the best in your division for nearly a decade straight, I think that's a fair basis for division GOAT, isn't it? Especially in a sport that's only 30 years old?

if you fight 1 time a year for 10 years and handpick your opponents you are not automatically goat. to become the goat is much much harder in any other major sports

 

[DoctorStoppage]

It was obvious how special of a fighter he was from even just his first few fights in the UFC. Didn’t take long for the GOAT candidate stuff to start when he exceeded even those expectations.

 

[turbotime]

When he smacked everybody all over. Anderson Silva DUCKED him, this is well known.

 

[Davidjacksonjones]

When he smacked everybody all over. Anderson Silva DUCKED him, this is well known.

Silva vs Jones in their primes would have been huge

 

[turbotime]

Silva vs Jones in their primes would have been huge

Yeah, Silva got lazy and was scared to move back up.

 

[turbotime]

Hell Pride ENCOURAGED Steroids!!!

Fuck a pulse they were gorging and bathing in ROIDS

View attachment 970844

They were experts when Jones was still in elementary school!

They didn't encourage it.

There was just nothing wrong with it.

 

[sss133]

Once he beat Lyoto I remember people at least saying he was the LHW GOAT after his run of beating ex champs.

 

[ferrisjso]

I wrote an article saying he was the GOAT for my HS paper in the spring of 2012. It was a debate columm where the other person was arguing AS was better and thought I was insane for comparing Jones to AS.

He was the GOAT after the Machida fight if we're being honest with ourselves.

 

[turbotime]

Once he beat Lyoto I remember people at least saying he was the LHW GOAT after his run of beating ex champs.

Belts are a dime a dozen, he ran his generation. Anderson Silva the GOAT lol for what? Looking good against Forrest Griffen?

OH Also ducked Machida and crapping his pants against Cote

 

[GSPenn1991]

It’s extremely difficult to do what Jon, Khabib, Fedor, Anderson and Gsp did. Mma is not a joke.

Khabib did a lot less than the others there. Let's keep this GOAT conversation for the GOATs

 

[The Accuser]

Given his multiple PED infractions the point is moot.

 

[Davidjacksonjones]

I wrote an article saying he was the GOAT for my HS paper in the spring of 2012. It was a debate columm where the other person was arguing AS was better and thought I was insane for comparing Jones to AS.

He was the GOAT after the Machida fight if we're being honest with ourselves.

My friend from high school told me about jones and showed me his fights over 10 years ago. We knew he was special since then. Crazy how long jones has stayed on top

 

[turbotime]

GSP is the GOAT though.

 

[ilfirin]

He hasn't been even remotely relevant in that discussion after getting caught roiding multiple times, nor will he ever be.

 

[Dreyga Hates You Sherbums]

Jones is frequently mentioned during GOAT talks, along with other legends such as GSP, Silva, Fedor, Aldo, etc.

This thread is not a debate of who is the GOAT, but rather, when did Jones become agreed upon as a GOAT candidate, or potentially the GOAT?

After beating Shogun, a lot of us definitely saw serious potential, but he was obviously not GOAT status that time. Which point of his career/victory sealed him as one of the best?

Before Jones came Chuck Liddell had the most title defenses in the history of the LHW division at 4 defenses

When Jon beat Chael Sonnen he broke that record and became the greatest LHW of all time and entered the GOAT conversation

 

[TankAbbott4Eva]

It'll be different times for different people.

For me, it was after DC 1. But I think people knew he on a GOAT-pace (minus self-destruction) when he blew through the Shogun/Machida/Rampage/Evans quartet with minimal resistance.

This is not considering the PED issue and taking everything at face value.

That was it pretty much for me, he did a bit after that too