Who would you pick to beat the Jones we saw at UFC 309?

[El Diego]

He looked slow on the feet against Gane, but dropping 20lbs worked wonders for his speed and fluidity; even though Stipe was old I thought Jon looked like the old Jon.

He's a tough fight for many HWs because he combines GOAT-lvl fight IQ with being extremely well-rounded and athletic.

I would pick peak Fedor, Cain, Aspinall over him, but he beats everyone else.

 

[STAY GOLD]

He looked like old Jon, not like the old Jon.

 

[Gabe]

Aspinall is 50/50 he beats everyone else at heavyweight right now. In the past…Cain and Fedor. He beats prime JDS, Werdum, Stipe, and Reem.

 

[Domitian]

Knowing Cain's knee problems and Jon's propensity to throw oblique kicks I don't see how anyone can pick Cain in that fight. Prime Reem and Werdum would be a lot tougher.

 

[El Diego]

Knowing Cain's knee problems and Jon's propensity to throw oblique kicks I don't see how anyone can pick Cain in that fight. Prime Reem and Werdum would be a lot tougher.

Cain never suffered a knee injury in a fight until he was fully washed vs Ngannou

Ubereem is overrated, he barely beat Werdum standing in SF when Werdum was a terrible striker.

 

[Cooliox]

Ngannou ends that version of Jones with one hand tied behind his back

 

[SerbianSteel]

The whole heavyweight top 5 except Gane maybe Volkov lol.

Looked slow and cowardly, turning his back like Israel. Jailton smothers him, Pavlovich, Blaydes and Aspinall walk him down and ko him.

 

[Bouboumaster]

Ngannou smokes that ass

 

[Poirierfan]

Jon didn't duck both Francis and Aspinall for no reason, so that's who'd I pick to beat him, especially Aspinall with his ground skills.

 

[joy2day]

Jon's last two fights have really skyrocketed his status, when neither really warranted much of a jump.

There are a number of HWs throughout MMA history that would be unlike any matchup Jon has ever had. There are multiple guys in the history of HW that would beat him. It's really getting carried away to say he would beat any of those top guys in their prime.

Even guys that aren't that good like Brock would present a unique challenge as Jones would have to be on his back likely for an extended time (Jon's never fought anyone huge with wrestling better than his). Jon's never faced the kind of sub threat that he would against Prime Nog or Werdum. He's never faced getting his head kicked off like he would against prime CC. Anyone as strong and well-rounded as Fedor? Nope.

He is still the guy that struggled with multiple mediocre LHWs, and many would say he lost at least one of those; beating a one-dimensional fighter and an old man at HW doesn't change much.

 

[RockyLockridge]

He looked like old Jon, not like the old Jon.

I miss the old Jon Jones
No, not the "old" Jon Jones
I miss "I never smoke weed,
I ran and told" Jon Jones

 

[felmmando]

Reyes, Santos, and Gustafsson.

 

[13Seconds]

I miss the old Jon Jones
No, not the "old" Jon Jones
I miss "I never smoke weed,
I ran and told" Jon Jones

Oh the 2010 Jon Jones. I think bro even chased down a mugger too. He def fooled me.

 

[Ibm]

Ill say he did look way better than i thought he would, he did look vulnerable in the exchnges though, dude keeps relying on his reach assuming punches wont touch him. I dont think he beats Ngannou, Gane in a heematch.

 

[JBJ was here]

Reyes, Santos, and Gustafsson.

Name three fighters who when they fought Jon Jones threw the most attempted significant strikes of their career, landing at anything from a poor to a miserable accuracy rate, thereby gassing themselves out and leaving nothing in the tank for the end of the fight. They should all have lost close but clear decisions and no more than one of the fighters you name should have done any actual damage in their fight with Jones.

 

[Megatronlee]

The whole heavyweight top 5 except Gane maybe Volkov lol.

Looked slow and cowardly, turning his back like Israel. Jailton smothers him, Pavlovich, Blaydes and Aspinall walk him down and ko him.

Then why did old man get beat by running man?

 

[Tweak896]

Jones variety of attack would be a problem. He comes with master gameplans. Everyone acts like he's so damn easy to KO, but won't post gifs like they do with others they hate on. His striking defense is other leagues ahead of most HWs.

Considering what he did with DC, you can leave Cain out of the conversation. His performances weren't slow at HW, he's fast enough to out maneuver HWs to the ground and is smart enough on the feet. He's just not built like the standard HW with boxing and power.

 

[SerbianSteel]

Then why did old man get beat by running man?

Because he's old.

 

[Gregoire1]

Prime Ngannou and 50/50 with prime Cain. No others.
And definitely not unproven bum Asp

 

[lsa]

Reyes, Santos, and Gustafsson.

Because Gustafssons second fight with Jon went really well.
Also Gustafssons fight at HW...
Gust aint beating Jon.