Jon ‘Bones’ Jones debuted on August 9, 2008, as a heavyweight class mixed martial arts boxer for the UFC. He debuted during the Seek and Destroy event for UFC 87. His first fight was against Andre Gusmao, which took place at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Jones was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2021 for being the greatest lightweight champion of all time. Jones is also known as the youngest lightweight champion when he took the title at age 23.
Now that he is upgrading from lightweight champion and transferring to the heavyweight division, experts ask this critical question. Will Jones’ newfound heavyweight career be as stellar as his current lightweight career?
We will discuss Jones’ stats, highlights of his current light heavyweight career, and the promise of the future as a heavyweight boxing contender.
Jones’ Fighter Stats
Jones stands at 6’’4’ and weighs 205 pounds. His reach is 84’’ and he favors the Orthodox stance.
His significant striking accuracy is 57% while his takedown accuracy is 44%.
Bones’ record is 26 wins, 1 loss, and 0 draws. One of the fights was considered a no-contest decision.
His one loss was against Matt Hamill in December 2009 at The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale. Jones was disqualified 4 ¼ minutes into round one elbowing Hamill in the head, which is against the fighting rules.
Fighter stats are important to consider when placing your bets for Novibet sports betting. Compare Jones’ stats with the stars of the next fighter he will be pitted against so you can bet wisely!
Jones’ Current Light Heavyweight Career
Many of Jones’ wins have been garnered because of unanimous decisions (designated as U-DEC on his UFC stats).
Fights ruled in unanimous decisions mean that the fighter has usually done a stellar job in performing well by keeping the game on offense and overwhelming their opponent.
Besides his debut against Gusmao in 2008, there have been 8 fights out of the 28 total where his win was ruled a unanimous decision by the judges.
His bout against Stephen Bonnar in January 2009 at the UFC 94: St-Pierre vs Penn 2 was a unanimous decision on his win.
The third fight ruled by a unanimous decision in Jones’ favor was versus Rashad Evans at UFC 145 in April 2012.
Other fights ruled as a unanimous decision in Jones’ favor were as follows.
- Versus Gustafsson at UFC 165 in 2013.
- Against Teixeira at UFC 172 in April 2014.
- Versus Cormier at UFC 182 in 2015.
- Against Saint Preux at UFC 197 in 2016.
- Against Smith at UFC 235 in 2019.
- Versus Reyes at UFC 247 in 2020.
Speculation About Jones’ Heavyweight Career
Since Jones usually does not train that much in between fights, it is a surprise to boxing experts that he is training now more than ever with his transfer to the heavyweight class.
Jones trains around the clock, giving himself only one day off per week. He visits 3 coaches that help with strength and conditioning while in the ring.
As hard as he is training, his heavyweight career could be as astounding as his lightweight career because of how much work he is putting in now.
The fighter proclaimed he used to let himself get fat in between fights without doing much training. He does not fight any time soon, so he is getting ready for his heavyweight debut at his goal weight of 245 pounds. He is currently 240 pounds.
FAQs About Jon Jones’ Career
What is a no-contest (NC) decision?
The UFC designates a no-contest decision as NC on a boxer’s record. This means that neither contender wins the match. The match will end for reasons that are sometimes not the fighters’ faults.
Which fight was an NC for Jones?
Jones’ NC fight was against Daniel Cormier in July 2017. It was ruled as an NC after the fight because Jones tested positive for turinabol which is an anabolic steroid.
What are your thoughts about Jones’ future heavyweight career?
How do you think Jones will match up to the greats in the heavyweight class? Start a conversation and let us know what you think in the comments!
