Jon Jones is only 25 years old, but he is already looking like one of the most experienced light heavyweights in the world. The 205-pound champion has steamrolled former UFC champions in four straight fights and will try to extend that streak against Vitor Belfort at UFC 152.
Like Jones, Belfort also had a great start to his UFC career, winning the UFC 12 tournament as a 19-year-old heavyweight. Years later, Belfort would become the UFC’s light heavyweight champion, a title he hopes to reclaim in a short-notice bout with Jones on Saturday night.
With two prodigies set to square off in the UFC 152 main event, let’s look back on the youngest fighters ever to compete for a UFC belt.
The following list does not include early-UFC tournament competitors.