Thirty years from now, Jon Jones will be one of the athletes you’ll be sure to tell your grandchildren about.
He can’t claim he is the best UFC fighter ever just yet—that distinction probably belongs to Anderson Silva and his ridiculous string of title defenses—but Jones has already established himself as a pound-for-pound great. The title of “Best Ever” isn’t too far behind.
Jones’ rise to the top of the UFC’s marquee division has been nothing short of spectacular. Following a run to a title shot that included wins over veterans such as Stephan Bonnar and Vladimir Matyushenko, Jones has defeated four consecutive former champions to claim the belt and keep it.
Defeating a string of champions like Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans is a task that is unparalleled in the sport.
However, for Jones to earn the title “Best Ever” and continue to build upon his legacy, he will need to continue his dominant reign while continuing to fight the best in the world.
Here are seven reasons why “Bones” will be able to do just that.