Jon Jones Reveals Ilia Topuria Was His Primary Candidate for GOAT Succession

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones recently shared his perspective on the legacy of former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. Widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists in history, Jones admitted that he viewed the undefeated Topuria as a significant threat to his 'GOAT' (Greatest of All Time) standing. Prior to his recent setback, Topuria had established himself as a dominant two-division force within the UFC, appearing to be on a clear trajectory toward historical greatness. Jones noted that Topuria’s combination of undefeated status and championship success made him the most credible challenger to his long-standing mythical status in the sport. However, those considerations shifted following Topuria’s recent loss to Justin Gaethje, which halted his momentum. Jones' comments provide a rare glimpse into how the heavyweight king evaluates the rising talent within the promotion and who he perceives as having the potential to rewrite the history books. While Topuria’s path has become more complicated following his defeat at the hands of Gaethje, his rapid ascent and previous status as a multi-division champion clearly left a lasting impression on the heavyweight champion.

Source: MMA Fighting.