The Mount Rushmore of MMA: Who Belongs Alongside Jon Jones in the GOAT Conversation?

When the cage door locks behind them, fighters enter a world where legends are born. Jon Jones has carved his name at the peak of this mountain with brutal efficiency, technical brilliance, and an unmatched resume. But in a sport built on blood and glory, “Bones” isn’t standing alone in the rarified air of all-time greatness.

I’ve spent countless nights debating this very question with fellow fight junkies: if Jones occupies the presidential suite in MMA’s hall of fame, who deserves the neighboring penthouses?

The Undisputed Case for Jon Jones

Before we explore the other immortals, let’s acknowledge why Jones sits at the throne. His dominance spans two weight classes, includes victories over five generations of light heavyweight contenders, and features not a single legitimate defeat (his DQ loss to Matt Hamill remains the sport’s biggest technicality). With his recent heavyweight coronation against Ciryl Gane, Jones effectively closed the book on any remaining doubters.

Insert image of Jon Jones with both UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight titles here

The Mount Rushmore Contenders

Georges St-Pierre: The Perfect Professional

If MMA had a textbook, GSP’s face would be on the cover. The Canadian superstar revolutionized what it meant to be a complete fighter, avenged both his career losses, and captured championships in two weight classes. What separates Georges from the pack? His ability to neutralize opponents’ strengths while implementing flawless game plans.

When Georges stepped away from welterweight as champion, returned four years later to snatch the middleweight title from Michael Bisping, and then rode off into the sunset, he cemented a legacy of perfect timing both inside and outside the cage.

Anderson Silva: The Matrix Incarnate

For nearly seven years, Silva made the UFC middleweight division his personal highlight reel. The way he toyed with formidable opponents like Forrest Griffin, Vitor Belfort, and Chael Sonnen bordered on supernatural. His 16 consecutive UFC victories and 10 title defenses stood as records until Jones came along.

What made Silva special wasn’t just winning—it was how he won. Hands dangling at his sides, matrix-like dodges, front kick knockouts that seemed pulled from kung fu movies. Anderson didn’t just beat you; he made you question whether you belonged in the same sport.

Demetrious Johnson: The Technical Wizard

Mighty Mouse might be the most technically perfect fighter to ever compete. His 11 consecutive title defenses established a UFC record that stood until recently, and his “Mouse Trap” flying armbar against Ray Borg remains the most innovative submission in championship history.

Johnson’s problem was never his skill—it was his size. In a sport that often values heavyweights over flyweights, DJ never received the recognition his otherworldly talents deserved. His recent ONE Championship success only bolsters his case.

Khabib Nurmagomedov: The Undefeated Eagle

29-0. In a sport where everyone loses eventually, Khabib never did. His dominance against elite lightweights like Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje wasn’t just impressive—it was terrifying. Opponents knew exactly what he would do and remained powerless to stop it.

The only knock against Nurmagomedov is his relatively short title reign and early retirement. Had he continued for a few more years, he might have claimed the top spot outright.

The Next Tier: Knocking on Greatness’s Door

Just below the Mount Rushmore level sits a group of legends who could still climb higher:

• Fedor Emelianenko: The Emperor’s decade of dominance in PRIDE and his mystique make him the heavyweight GOAT for many old-school fans
• Amanda Nunes: The greatest female fighter ever with two-division dominance and wins over every female champion in UFC bantamweight and featherweight history
• Jose Aldo: His 10-year undefeated run and WEC/UFC featherweight reign established a blueprint for lower-weight greatness
• Daniel Cormier: A two-division champion whose only losses came to Jones and Stipe Miocic
• Stipe Miocic: The most accomplished heavyweight in UFC history with the most successful title defenses

What Makes a GOAT?

When comparing these legends, we need to consider several factors:

1. Level of competition faced
2. Dominance within their era
3. Longevity at the championship level
4. Technical innovation
5. Multi-division success
6. Clean competition record (PEDs, missed weights, etc.)

Jones excels in most categories but has the PED asterisks that purists can’t ignore. GSP checks nearly every box but lacked the finishing instinct in his later career. Silva’s decline was steep and prolonged. Johnson never got the mainstream recognition. Khabib’s career was shorter than the others.

That’s what makes this conversation so fascinating—there’s no perfect answer.

The Next Generation: Future Mount Rushmore Candidates

The beauty of MMA is its constant evolution. Several active fighters could eventually join this conversation:

• Islam Makhachev: Following Khabib’s blueprint with an even more diverse skill set
• Alexander Volkanovski: His featherweight dominance and lightweight challenges show championship versatility
• Leon Edwards: The head kick heard around the world against Kamaru Usman could be just the beginning
• Ilia