Jon Jones is a former American professional mixed martial artist, celebrated as one of the greatest of all time. He achieved significant success in the UFC, holding the Light Heavyweight Championship twice (2011-2015, 2018-2020) and the Heavyweight Championship (2023-2025). He also held the interim Light Heavyweight title in 2016. His career spanned from 2008 to 2025.
Dana White criticized Jon Jones, calling him unreliable after Jones couldn't fight on the White House card. Luke Rockhold expressed disappointment, and the feud escalated due to White's remarks.
On July 19, 1987, Jonathan Dwight Jones was born. He later became a professional mixed martial artist.
In 2004, Jon Jones won the Northeast Junior Greco‑Roman Regional Championship at 189-pounds and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler. He also won the STAC Wrestling Championship and placed third at the NYSPHSAA Division I state championships that year.
In 2005, Jon Jones captured the NYSPHSAA Division I state title at 189-pounds and was named an NHSCA Senior All‑American.
In January 2008, Jon Jones participated in the Northeastern Grappler's Challenge in Ithaca, New York. Jones competed in two matches, both against Doug Fournet, whom Jones submitted both times with a 'Kimura'.
In April 2008, Jon Jones made his professional MMA debut, and won the USKBA Light Heavyweight Championship before joining the UFC.
On August 9, 2008, Jon Jones made his UFC debut against André Gusmão at UFC 87, winning by unanimous decision.
In 2008, Jonathan Dwight Jones began his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career.
On January 31, 2009, Jon Jones defeated Stephan Bonnar by unanimous decision at UFC 94.
On July 11, 2009, Jon Jones defeated Jake O'Brien via submission at UFC 100.
In September 2009, Jon Jones signed a new, four-fight contract with the UFC, recognizing his successful performances.
On December 5, 2009, Jon Jones fought Matt Hamill at The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale and was disqualified for using illegal 12–6 elbows, marking the first time Nevada used its instant replay rule.
In 2009, Jon Jones started training at Jackson Wink MMA gym, marking a significant step in his MMA career and development.
On March 21, 2010, Jon Jones defeated Brandon Vera by TKO at UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones, earning the "Knockout of the Night" award.
On August 1, 2010, Jon Jones defeated Vladimir Matyushenko by TKO at UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko, solidifying his position in the top eight in the world.
In December 2010, Xyience announced that they had signed Jon Jones to an endorsement deal, making him a brand ambassador for the company.
On February 5, 2011, Jon Jones defeated Ryan Bader via submission at UFC 126, earning the "Submission of the Night" bonus.
On March 19, 2011, at UFC 128, Jon Jones defeated Maurício "Shogun" Rua by TKO to become the youngest UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
On August 6, 2011, Jon Jones's first title defense against Rashad Evans at UFC 133 was delayed due to a hand injury.
On September 24, 2011, Jon Jones defeated Quinton Jackson via submission at UFC 135, marking the first time Jackson had been submitted in the UFC.
In October 2011, Jon Jones was featured as an athlete in ESPN The Magazine's The Body Issue, gaining recognition outside of the MMA world.
On December 10, 2011, at UFC 140, Jon Jones successfully defended his light heavyweight title by defeating Lyoto Machida via technical submission.
In 2011, Jonathan Dwight Jones became the Light Heavyweight Champion in the UFC.
On April 21, 2012, Jon Jones defeated Rashad Evans at UFC 145 by unanimous decision after a long-standing rivalry.
On May 19, 2012, Jon Jones was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) after driving his Bentley Continental GT into a pole in Binghamton, New York, leading to legal consequences and license suspension.
On August 8, 2012, Jon Jones became the first mixed martial artist to be sponsored by Nike on an international scale, marking a significant milestone in his career.
On September 22, 2012, Jon Jones defended the championship against Vitor Belfort at UFC 152 after Lyoto Machida rejected the fight due to a lack of training time.
In 2012, Jon Jones stated that his fight against Quinton Jackson was his favorite fight up to that point.
On April 27, 2013, Jon Jones defeated Chael Sonnen via TKO at UFC 159, tying Tito Ortiz for most consecutive title defenses in UFC light heavyweight history.
On September 21, 2013, Jon Jones faced Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165, winning via unanimous decision despite a cut above his eye in the first round. Both fighters were hospitalized for lacerations and facial swelling but released without serious injuries. The bout was awarded Fight of the Night and received rave reviews, later being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame's Fight Wing.
On November 13, 2013, it was announced that Jon Jones would fight Glover Teixeira at UFC 170, scheduled for February 22, 2014, though this was subsequently removed from the card.
In April 2014, Jon Jones released a video on Instagram mocking fans who criticized him for eye-poking, simulating crying and labeling himself the "dirtiest fighter in MMA."
On April 26, 2014, Jon Jones fought Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 and won the bout via unanimous decision (50–45, 50–45, and 50–45).
On April 27, 2014, UFC President Dana White confirmed that Jon Jones would next have a rematch against Alexander Gustafsson, with a possible stadium match in Sweden on pay-per-view.
On May 24, 2014, it was indicated that the rematch between Jones and Gustafsson would take place in Las Vegas on August 30, 2014, at UFC 177, but it was not yet official.
On June 5, 2014, the UFC confirmed that the rematch between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson would take place on September 27, 2014, at UFC 178.
On August 4, 2014, during a promotional event for UFC 178, Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier engaged in a scuffle, initiated by Jones pressing his forehead against Cormier's, leading to a physical altercation and threats.
On August 12, 2014, it was announced that Jon Jones had sustained a leg injury in training, causing him to withdraw from his scheduled fight against Daniel Cormier. The bout was rescheduled for January 3, 2015, at UFC 182.
On September 23, 2014, Jon Jones was fined $50,000 and ordered to undergo 40 hours of community service by the Nevada Athletic Commission for his role in the altercation with Daniel Cormier.
On December 3, 2014, Jon Jones was randomly tested for drugs. The results, which came back on December 23, showed a positive result for benzoylecgonine, the primary metabolite of cocaine.
On December 16, 2014, Jon Jones announced that he had signed a sponsorship deal with Reebok, further expanding his endorsement portfolio.
On January 3, 2015, Jon Jones defeated Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 by unanimous decision (49–46, 49–46, and 49–46), earning his fourth Fight of the Night bonus award. However, he later failed a drug test for cocaine one month prior.
On January 6, 2015, it was announced that Jon Jones failed a drug test prior to UFC 182, testing positive for benzoylecgonine, the primary metabolite of cocaine. The NSAC couldn't halt Jones from participating as the substance was not banned out-of-competition by WADA.
On January 19, 2015, Jon Jones was interviewed following his failed drug test. During the interview, Jones stated that he wasn't a cocaine addict or a frequent user, but rather made a "really dumb decision" and got caught.
On April 27, 2015, Albuquerque police reported that Jon Jones was being sought in connection with a hit and run that occurred early that morning where he allegedly ran a red light and crashed his rental car in a collision involving two other vehicles, fleeing the scene on foot.
On April 29, 2015, Reebok terminated their sponsorship with Jon Jones following his involvement in a hit-and-run incident, impacting his endorsement deals.
Jon Jones was expected to defend his title against Anthony Johnson on May 23, 2015, at UFC 187.
On September 29, 2015, Jon Jones pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and was sentenced to up to 18 months of supervised probation.
On October 23, 2015, the UFC announced that Jon Jones had been reinstated to the active roster after his suspension.
On November 4, 2015, Jon Jones signed a sponsorship deal with GAT Nutrition, adding another endorsement to his portfolio.
In 2015, Jon Jones was stripped of his UFC light heavyweight title and removed from the rankings after being arrested on felony hit-and-run charges.
In 2015, Jonathan Dwight Jones's first reign as the Light Heavyweight Champion came to an end.
On April 23, 2016, Jon Jones defeated Ovince Saint Preux by unanimous decision (50–44, 50–45, and 50–45) at UFC 197, after Cormier pulled out of the fight due to a foot injury.
On July 6, 2016, Jon Jones was removed from his scheduled bout at UFC 200 by USADA on June 16 after a potential doping violation.
On July 8, 2016, it was revealed that a urine sample from Jon Jones tested positive for clomiphene and letrozole, both banned substances, before his fight with Cormier at UFC 200. As a result, Jones had to withdraw from the event.
The rematch with Cormier was rescheduled and expected to take place on July 9, 2016, at UFC 200.
In October 2016, after being called out by some MMA fans at the Europa Games expo, Jones decided to take part in the NAGA no-gi grappling tournament, winning both of his matches with guillotines.
On November 7, 2016, it was announced that Jon Jones had been suspended for one year by USADA, retroactive to July 7, following a doping violation. He was also stripped of his interim title.
On December 1, 2016, Jon Jones revealed in an interview with Joe Rogan that he has four daughters aged 9, 8, 6 and 3.
On December 10, 2016, Jon Jones fought Dan Henderson in a grappling match for the Submission Underground 2 tournament, submitting him with an arm-triangle choke. Afterwards, Jones expressed interest in competing against Chael Sonnen.
In December 2016, Jon Jones admitted in an interview that he had run from the scene of the accident in 2015 and had not checked on the occupant of the other vehicle.
In 2016, Jon Jones returned to the UFC and won a title bout against Ovince Saint Preux, though this victory was later impacted by controversies.
In 2016, Jonathan Dwight Jones became the interim Light Heavyweight Champion in the UFC.
On July 29, 2017, Jon Jones defeated Daniel Cormier at UFC 214, regaining the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship via knockout. He earned a Performance of the Night bonus, praised Cormier, and challenged Brock Lesnar to a fight.
On August 22, 2017, it was announced that Jon Jones was flagged for a potential doping violation by USADA. This stemmed from a test sample collected on July 28, the day before his rematch against Cormier at UFC 214. He tested positive for Turinabol.
In 2017, Jon Jones's drug tests detected the M3 metabolite of Turinabol. This later factored into decisions regarding his eligibility to fight in subsequent years.
In 2017, Jon Jones's mother, Camille, passed away at the age of 55 after battling diabetes.
In 2017, Jon Jones's victory against Daniel Cormier was overturned to a no contest due to him testing positive for banned substances, leading to another suspension.
In 2017, the Unified Rules were amended to prohibit extension of a fighter's fingers towards the eyes of an opponent, partly influenced by criticism of Jon Jones's eye-poking incidents.
In September 2018, USADA announced that Jon Jones would serve a 15-month suspension for a doping violation, reduced from a potential 48 months due to his cooperation and degree of fault.
On October 10, 2018, it was announced that Jon Jones would return at UFC 232 on December 29, 2018, for a rematch with Alexander Gustafsson for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
On October 28, 2018, Jon Jones became eligible to fight again, and a fight against Alexander Gustafsson was scheduled. However, due to further inconsistencies with his drug test, the event was moved to Los Angeles and Jones had to enroll into the VADA testing program.
On December 29, 2018, Jon Jones defeated Alexander Gustafsson by technical knockout to win the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship at UFC 232.
In 2018, Jon Jones reclaimed the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship by defeating Alexander Gustafsson after his suspension was lifted.
In 2018, Jonathan Dwight Jones started his second reign as the Light Heavyweight Champion in the UFC.
On March 2, 2019, Jon Jones faced Anthony Smith at UFC 235, winning via unanimous decision despite a point deduction for an illegal knee.
In April 2019, Jon Jones was allegedly involved in an incident at a strip club in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which later led to battery charges.
On July 6, 2019, Jon Jones faced Thiago Santos at UFC 239, winning via split decision and defending his title.
On July 21, 2019, Jon Jones was reported to have been charged with battery for an alleged incident in April 2019 involving a cocktail waitress at a strip club in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
On September 26, 2019, Jon Jones pleaded no contest to battery charges stemming from an incident at a strip club and received a 90-day deferred sentence.
In December 2019, Jon Jones donated and handed out $20,000 worth of coats to homeless people in Albuquerque, New Mexico, showcasing his philanthropic efforts.
In 2019, Dana White attempted to have Jon Jones's disqualification loss to Matt Hamill overturned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
On February 8, 2020, Jon Jones faced Dominick Reyes at UFC 247, winning via controversial unanimous decision and setting a new record for most wins in UFC title fight history with 14 wins.
In February 2020, Jon Jones targeted a fight with heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou and wanted "Deontay Wilder money".
On March 8, 2020, it was announced that the September 21, 2013 fight between Jones and Gustafsson would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame's Fight Wing on July 9.
On March 26, 2020, Jon Jones was arrested in Albuquerque for aggravated DWI, negligent use of a firearm, possession of an open container, and driving with no proof of insurance.
In May 2020, Jon Jones donated $25,000 to The Food Depot, an organization dedicated to combating hunger, demonstrating his commitment to community support.
In May 2020, Jon Jones had a conflict with UFC President Dana White over pay, leading to his later decision to vacate the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
On August 15, 2020, Jon Jones announced on social media that he would be relinquishing the Light Heavyweight Championship, expressing his desire to move up to heavyweight.
In 2020, Jon Jones founded the C.A.R.E. Project, a nonprofit dedicated to the cleanup and beautification of New Mexico, launching initiatives to support his community.
In 2020, Jon Jones voluntarily vacated the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
In 2020, Jonathan Dwight Jones's second reign as the Light Heavyweight Champion came to an end.
In the early hours of September 24, 2021, Jon Jones was arrested in Las Vegas for domestic battery and tampering with a police vehicle following a domestic incident at Caesars Palace resort hotel.
On February 23, 2022, Jon Jones announced via Twitter that his fiancée Jessie had left him approximately two months prior, marking a significant moment in his personal life.
On March 4, 2023, Jon Jones faced Ciryl Gane for the vacant UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 285, winning via guillotine choke submission in the first round and earning the Performance of the Night bonus award.
On November 11, 2023, Jon Jones was scheduled to defend his title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 but was forced to pull out due to a torn pectoral tendon. Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall fought for the interim title instead.
In 2023, Jon Jones returned to MMA after three years and won the UFC Heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane.
On March 30, 2024, Crystal Martinez, a drug-testing agent, filed a police report stating that Jon Jones allegedly assaulted and threatened her during a visit to his home for a urine sample collection.
On April 7, 2024, the Albuquerque Police Department issued Jon Jones a summons citing assault and interference with communications offenses, related to the incident with the drug-testing agent.
In June 2024, Jon Jones announced that he had been granted 50/50 custody over his son, marking the first time he indicated having a son.
In July 2024, Jon Jones pled not guilty to misdemeanor charges related to the alleged assault and interference with communications offenses during a visit from a drug-testing agent, with a bench trial initially set for August 22nd.
On October 29, 2024, Jon Jones agreed to attend four hours of anger management classes in order to resolve the charges against him, related to the incident with the drug-testing agent.
In November 2024, Gable Steveson decided to pursue MMA after assisting Jones during preparations for his November 2024 UFC heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic.
On November 16, 2024, the bout between Jon Jones and Miocic was rescheduled to UFC 309 where he won the fight by technical knockout via a spinning back kick followed by punches in the third round. With this twelfth title defense, Jones broke the record for most title defenses in UFC history and earned another Performance of the Night award.
On January 15, 2025, following the removal of Clay Guida from the UFC roster, Jon Jones became the promotion's longest-tenured fighter.
In January 2025, Jon Jones received a personal invitation from President Donald Trump to attend his inauguration, which Jones accepted and attended.
In February 2025, Jon Jones partnered with Power to the Patients, a healthcare reform group, to advocate for more affordable and accessible healthcare.
In March 2025, it was announced that Jon Jones is a co-owner of "Dirty Boxing Championship", marking a new business venture for him.
On June 17, 2025, Jon Jones faced a criminal summons in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. He was accused of a misdemeanor for allegedly fleeing the scene of a traffic accident that occurred in February. The incident involved a woman found significantly intoxicated and partially unclothed, who claimed Jones was driving and fled. During a call after the incident, police allege Jones appeared intoxicated and made statements implying the use of lethal force through third parties.
On June 21, 2025, at the post-fight press conference of UFC on ABC: Hill vs. Rountree Jr., Dana White announced that Jones had retired from mixed martial arts competition and that Aspinall was the new undisputed champion as a result.
On July 4, 2025, the day after UFC White House was announced, Jones said he re-entered the testing pool and is listed as active on the official UFC website.
On October 3, 2025, Jon Jones' older brother, Arthur, passed away at the age of 39, marking a personal tragedy for Jones and his family.
In 2025, Jon Jones retired.
In 2025, Jon Jones, together with 1win Charity, ran a global campaign from December 1–23, drawing over 60,000 participants from 40+ countries and fulfilling more than 100 wishes worldwide, backed by a $100,000 prize fund, including personal gifts as well as community support.
In 2025, Jones coached on ALF Reality, a Russian reality fighting series, appearing in its second season opposite Jorge Masvidal.
In 2025, Jones has trained 2020 Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson since Steveson's transition to mixed martial arts.
On March 9, 2026, after the White House card was announced and Jones was not on it, he requested his release from the UFC.
In 2026, Jones coached on ALF Reality, a Russian reality fighting series, appearing in its third season opposite Daniel Cormier.
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