Yahoo Sports UFC 285 preview: Inside Jon Jones’ resume and records he can set in heavyweight debut
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones returns Saturday after more than three years off to make his long-awaited, highly anticipated heavyweight debut.
Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) has been through a lot in his career and his longest layoff to date, but he’ll have the chance to further enhance his legacy when he meets Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight championship in the pay-per-view headliner from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Prelims air on ESPNews following early prelims on ESPN+.
That footnote in history is something Jones has been pursuing for quite some time, but he’ll have to get through Gane (11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) to make it happen. Is he capable? Jones’ record below shows the depth of his accomplishments so far ahead of his comeback fight.
General statistics
Jon Jones at UFC 239
Jones will move up to the heavyweight division for the first time in his career.
He returns to competition for the first time since Feb. 8, 2020. The 1,120-day layoff is the longest of his nearly 15-year career.
He competes in his 19th main event under the UFC banner, the second-most in company history behind Anderson Silva (21).
He competed 22 UFC light heavyweight bouts before moving up, the fourth-most appearances in divisional history behind Mauricio Rua (24), Ovince Saint Preux (24) and Glover Teixeira (22).
His current 18-fight UFC unbeaten streak in light heavyweight competition is the longest active streak in the division and longest in the history of the weight class. It’s also the longest UFC unbeaten streak among active fighters.
His 18-fight unbeaten streak in UFC competition is the longest in company history.
His 20 UFC light heavyweight victories are the most in divisional history.
Jones’ 10 decision victories in UFC light heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
His 10 stoppage victories in UFC light heavyweight competition are third-most in divisional history behind Teixeira (13) and Saint Preux (11).
His five submission victories in UFC light heavyweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Teixeira (seven) and Paul Craig (six).
He’s defeated seven fighters who once held an undisputed UFC belt, the most of any active fighter in the organization.
His eight fight-night bonuses for UFC light heavyweight bouts are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Teixeira (10).
His reach of 84.5 inches is longest in the light heavyweight division and longest among active UFC fighters.
Championship statistics
Jon Jones at UFC 247
At 23 years, 8 months old, Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history when he defeated “Shogun” Rua for the light heavyweight title at UFC 128 in March 2011.
At 24 years, 2 months, 5 days old, he became the youngest fighter in UFC history to defend a title when he defeated Quinton Jackson at UFC 135.
He can become the eighth fighter in history to win titles in two weight classes. Randy Couture, B.J. Penn, Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo and Amanda Nunes accomplished the feat.
He can become the third fighter to win titles in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. Couture and Cormier accomplished the feat.
His two UFC light heavyweight title reigns are tied with Couture for most in divisional history.
His first title reign of 1,501 days is the longest in UFC light heavyweight history.
His 14 victories in UFC title fights are most in company history.
His eight consecutive light heavyweight title defenses during his first reign are a record for the weight class.
His streak of eight consecutive UFC title defenses is fourth longest in history behind Demetrious Johnson (11), Silva (10) and St-Pierre (nine).
His four UFC title defenses in a 364-day span between Sept. 24, 2011, and Sept. 22, 2012, are the most by any champion in modern UFC history.
His six stoppage victories in UFC title fights are tied with Ronda Rousey for fourth most in company history behind Silva (nine), Matt Hughes (eight) and Johnson (seven).
In-fight statistics
Jon Jones at UFC 239
Jones has never been knocked down or submitted in MMA competition.
His 1,835 total strikes landed in UFC light heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
His 1,463 significant strikes landed in UFC light heavyweight competition are the most in divisional history.
His significant strike accuracy of 57.9 percent in UFC light heavyweight competition is the third-highest in divisional history behind Fabio Maldonado (60.2 percent) and Alonzo Menifield (58.7 percent).
His 42 takedowns landed in UFC light heavyweight competition are fourth most in divisional history behind Corey Anderson (53), Rashad Evans (50) and Ryan Bader (46).
He’s been taken down only twice in his 27-fight career, with 35 of 37 takedowns defended (95 percent) in his UFC tenure. Alexander Gustafsson dragged him to the mat once at UFC 165. Cormier also took him down once – a slam he immediately got up from – at UFC 182.
His takedown defense rate of 95 percent is the third-best in UFC history behind Chris Cutis (100 percent) and Kamaru Usman (97.2 percent.
He’s one of three fighters in UFC history to earn two fourth-round finishes. He accomplished the feat at UFC 152 and UFC 135.
His total fight time of 5:40:15 in UFC light heavyweight competition is most in divisional history.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.
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