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Jon Jones considered Ilia Topuria ‘first threat’ to his ‘GOAT’ status until loss to Justin Gaethje

Jon Jones is widely considered the greatest of all time in MMA, but he viewed former UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria as potentially the best candidate to eventually take that mythical spot from him. Heading into his most recent fight…

By Damon Martin · MMA Fighting

Published: Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at 9:00 PM

Key Things to Know

Jon Jones viewed Ilia Topuria as the first real threat to his status as MMA's greatest fighter.
Topuria's undefeated run ended after a fourth-round stoppage defeat against Justin Gaethje.
Jones praised Topuria's boxing, power, and conduct outside the cage despite the shocking loss.

The Story in 60 Seconds

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones revealed that he viewed Ilia Topuria as the first legitimate threat to his status as the greatest fighter of all time. Jones admitted he considered Topuria nearly invincible prior to Topuria's fourth-round stoppage loss against Justin Gaethje at the UFC White House event, which cost him his lightweight title.

Despite the setback, Jones praised Topuria's boxing skills, punching power, and character outside the Octagon. Jones noted that the two share a manager, stating that Topuria is taking all the proper recovery steps and doing everything necessary to return to his winning ways.

Read the full article on MMA Fighting

Jon Jones considered Ilia Topuria ‘first threat’ to his ‘GOAT’ status until loss to Justin Gaethje

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