Jon Jones, the former light heavyweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), is set to face Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title of the world. Jones’s move to the heavyweight division is a significant milestone in his storied career, and a win over Gane will solidify his legacy as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.
Jones has been the dominant force in the light heavyweight division for nearly a decade, establishing a record of 26 wins and one loss, with several wins coming against top-ranked opponents and amassing a jaw-dropping 10 title defenses. However, after losing his title because of a dispute with UFC president Dana White on fighter pay and facing personal issues outside of the octagon, Jones decided to move up a weight class and take on the challenges that come with it.
Defeating Ciryl Gane, a rising heavyweight star with an undefeated record, would be no small feat. Gane is a skilled striker with knockout power, and his unorthodox striking style has proven to be a challenge for his opponents. Before joining the UFC, Gane had a successful career in Muay Thai. He had a 13-0 record in the sport, showcasing his striking prowess and dominance in the ring. Gane’s striking style is rooted in traditional Muay Thai techniques, with an emphasis on power and accuracy. He can deliver devastating strikes with both his hands and legs, making him a threat to any opponent. In his UFC career, Gane has defeated top-level competition, including Tai Tuivasa, who came into the fight with five straight wins, and Derrick Lewis, a former title challenger. Gane’s only combat loss was a 3-2 decision to Francis Ngannou, who stepped down because of a contract dispute with the UFC.
Jones, however, is no stranger to overcoming adversity in the octagon and has shown time and time again that he can adapt to any style of fighting. If Jones were to defeat Gane and win the heavyweight title, it would end the debate about who is the greatest UFC fighter ever. Not only would he become a two-division champion, but he would also have defeated some of the toughest fighters in the sport at both weight classes. In a recent interview before UFC 284, UFC’s long-time president Dana White stated “Nobody can deny that Jon Jones is the greatest of all time if he comes in and wins. It’s hard to debate if he doesn’t win the fight. But he wins this fight-there is no more talk.”
Jon Jones’s move to the heavyweight division and potential victory over Ciryl Gane represents a chance at history which, he recently admitted when he stated on Jimmy Smith’s Unlocking The Cage podcast: “I’m fighting for something that I believe is bigger, which is the greatest of all time, and I do believe a victory over Gane solidifies that.”But for the former light heavyweight champion, this fight is not just about the accomplishments in the ring, but also redemption. Jones has had his fair share of troubles in the past, including legal issues and a suspension for violating the UFC’s anti-doping policy. However, he has recently extended an olive branch to his longtime rival, Daniel Cormier, and expressed a desire to make amends and move forward from their bitter feud. In a recent interview, Jones spoke positively of Cormier’s competitive nature and cited him as a reason why he drove himself so hard in the octagon. This olive branch represents a new chapter in Jones’s career, one where he is not just focused on athletic achievement, but also on personal growth. In a sport that often prioritizes physical strength and toughness, Jon Jones’s redemption story is a powerful example of the importance of personal growth and resilience. By becoming a two-division champion and continuing on this path, Jones may leave a legacy that extends beyond his record-breaking achievements in the octagon.
