UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones does not yet share the same pound-for-pound title with Anderson “The Spider” Silva. Indeed, the previous toss-up between Silva and Georges St-Pierre remains MMA’s closest parallel to the Papal Schism.
There is no doubt, though, that the current LH champion Jones is reaching and inching closer to the throne with his third successful title defense, seventh straight win, 16th victory in 17 fights and only one defeat best written in quotation marks.
Yes, it’s cumbersome, but let’s mention and specify again that that disqualification loss was due to illegal elbow strikes versus Matt Hamill—a lone, isolated case of the greatest-not-being-the-smartest all the time. (Greatest light-heavyweight, I mean.)
Other than that cursed “loss,” Jones has proven that he is the smartest and most skillful every single time inside The Octagon.
Now, after elbowing Rashad Evans out of the title contention picture for the moment, Jones is handed by Dana White a chance to spur the pound-for-pound debate further—by defending his belt against living legend Dan “Hendo” Henderson.
And as “MMA math” goes, if Jones defeats Henderson in a quicker and more spectacular fashion than Silva did, then he can be considered as the better fighter than The Spider.
As a reminder, Silva submitted Hendo by rear-naked choke at 4:50 of the second round of their UFC 82 main event in 2008.
But if Hendo lasts longer against Jones—especially for five full rounds like Evans—even if he loses, then Bones will be judged as inferior to Silva.
Worse if Hendo wins, as MMA math is ultimately predicated on the following equation: If X (Silva) beats Y (Hendo), and Y beats Z (Jones), then X is better than Z.
Well, MMA math may not be absolutely valid in comparing one fighter with another, but it’s not entirely without merit in analyzing hypothetical matchups.
Resorting to it will never prove as decisive as the Council of Constance, but in the absence of an actual match between two great fighters in question, at least it provides a parameter for comparison.
MMA math is just one of many theoretical frameworks.
Besides, give some credit to them MMA mathematicians; after all, not everyone’s good in math.
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