What Jon Jones has been able to accomplish in the past year is remarkable, but at only 24 years old, we may have yet to see Jones at his full potential as a fighter.
Having successfully defended the UFC light heavyweight title on two occasions, Jones is already on his way to establishing his own legacy. But perhaps the intrigue and aura that surrounds the champion is not who he has defeated, but how effortlessly he has been able to defeat his opposition thus far.
Competing against experienced fighters in Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was supposed to serve as a test for the 205-pound champion, and he passed it with flying colours.
Victories over Rua, Jackson and Lyoto Machida have led many fans to claim Jones to having one of the single greatest years in mixed martial arts history. While these wins have sparked debate on his placement among the pound-for-pound rankings, it is unquestionable that Jones has earned himself a spot on the list filled with past UFC light heavyweight champions like Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell.
And with such dominant victories over credible contenders like Rua and Machida, it is only a matter of time before Jones takes his rightful place as the greatest UFC light heavyweight champion. He will hope to extend his title reign when he meets another formidable opponent in Rashad Evans this weekend at UFC 145.
But for now, Jones has only begun to scratch the surface at 205 pounds.
Statistically speaking, Jones shouldn’t be ranked any higher than top five, as he has only defended the title twice.
Granted, some of his wins have come against some of the best fighters in the sport, but Jones still has to get past fighters like Evans and Dan Henderson before he gains fan praise and recognition similar to Liddell or Ortiz.
Jones might still be maturing as a fighter, but a possible win over Evans may be the step in the right direction as “Bones” looks to cement his legacy as of the greatest light heavyweight champion in UFC history.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com