The main event at UFC 135 proved that Jon Jones is for real. The 24-year old phenom annihilated former champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson for three full rounds before finally submitting him in the fourth.
The dominance he displayed was just the latest in what is becoming a long run of fights where Jones hasn’t even truly been tested. Early in his career, we all thought that it was just because he wasn’t fighting top competition—but now he’s doing it against some of the very best fighters in the world.
There’s no doubt that Jones is the top light heavyweight right now, but there’s also a very real case to be made that he is the best ever at 205 pounds.
In order to determine that, though, we have to take a look back at the other top light heavyweights in history. These five fighters have secured their place in history among the elite in their weight class and are in the conversation of being the best ever.