Georges St-Pierre Puts Jon Jones at the Top of His GOAT List

When it comes to discussing the greatest MMA fighters of all time, names like Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Anderson Silva, Demetrious Johnson, and Fedor Emelianenko are often at the forefront of the conversation. However, St-Pierre himself has stated that pound-for-pound talk is somewhat frivolous.

But on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, St-Pierre was asked for his opinion on who he believes is the greatest MMA fighter, and he didn’t hesitate to praise the current UFC heavyweight champion.

“In terms of where we are now, I think it’s hard to find someone better than Jon Jones,” St-Pierre said. “Jon Jones is extremely talented, but he’s also extremely tough. People have no idea how tough he is. I’ve trained with him, I’ve seen him going through the grind. He’s so freaking tough. I remember the fight that he had with Vitor Belfort, I think his arm got dislocated, and he fought even with a dislocated arm. Even one of his fights, his toe was broken.”

St-Pierre went on to praise Jones for being the “full package” with elite striking and grappling skills, as well as toughness. He also acknowledged that while there may be criticisms of Jones, it’s hard to argue against his accomplishments and recent victory over Ciryl Gane.

Jones’ Legacy and Potential for Evolution

Jones, who is currently the UFC’s top-ranked heavyweight, solidified his legacy at 205 pounds where he held the title for over 1500 days and defeated a long list of legends and dangerous challengers. He has only one loss on his record, a disqualification for illegal strikes in a 2009 fight that he was dominating.

While Jones has faced outside-of-the-cage issues, his performances inside the octagon have rarely disappointed. And according to St-Pierre, it’s difficult to declare a fighter as the best ever due to the constant evolution of the sport.

“For me, the best, the one that made the difference for me because he inspired me was Royce Gracie,” St-Pierre said. “Do I think Royce Gracie would have done well nowadays in the octagon? No, I don’t. I think the best pound-for-pound in that regard is not even born yet, because things will start getting better. Records are made to be beaten.”

Kosport Magazine’s Take

While St-Pierre may currently put Jones at the top of his GOAT list, he acknowledges that the sport is constantly evolving and there may be future fighters who surpass even Jones’ accomplishments. But for now, Jones’ combination of talent, toughness, and dominance make him a strong contender for the title of MMA’s greatest of all time.