Jon Jones
The rangy innovator who broke the title-defense record
- Born
- July 19, 1987, Rochester, New York, US
- Nationality
United States- Height
- 193 cm (6′4″)
- Reach
- 215 cm (7′1″)
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Style
- Creative range fighter
- Weight
- Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight
- Active
- 2008–2024
- Status
- Retired · age 39
The record
Only loss: 2009 disqualification for illegal 12-6 elbows vs Matt Hamill. His 2017 KO of Daniel Cormier was overturned to a no contest after a failed drug test. Retired June 2025; still on the UFC roster and in the testing pool as of mid-2026. record
The story
on Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history when he stopped Maurício Rua in 2011, aged 23. A former junior college national wrestling champion from Rochester, New York, he paired an 84½-inch reach with oblique kicks, spinning elbows and Greco-Roman and judo work in the clinch. He held the light heavyweight title twice, won the heavyweight belt by submitting Ciryl Gane in the first round in 2023, and stopped Stipe Miocic in 2024 for his 12th title defense, a UFC record. His only loss is a 2009 disqualification for illegal 12-6 elbows against Matt Hamill, and a 2017 knockout of Daniel Cormier was changed to a no contest after Jones failed a drug test. He retired in 2025 but has kept the door open to a return.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- UFC light heavyweight champion (2 reigns: 2011–2015, 2018–2020)
- Interim UFC light heavyweight champion (2016)
- UFC heavyweight champion (2023–2025)
- 12 successful title defenses, a UFC record
- NJCAA national wrestling champion (2006)
- UFC Hall of Fame, Fight Wing (announced 2020): vs Alexander Gustafsson, UFC 165
Defining fights
- 2011WINvs Maurício Rua (TKO R3, won UFC light heavyweight title)
- 2013WINvs Alexander Gustafsson (UD, Hall of Fame fight)
- 2015WINvs Daniel Cormier (UD)
- 2023WINvs Ciryl Gane (guillotine choke R1, won UFC heavyweight title)
- 2024WINvs Stipe Miocic (TKO R3, record 12th title defense)
Use your length: jab, teep and kick to the body to hold range, then win the clinch with wrist and arm control before throwing short elbows or a trip. MMA students can link wrist-control work from wrestling class straight into clinch strikes and Greco-Roman style throws.
