Nick White
Dana White, the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has recently made headlines with his bold statement that Jon Jones could be considered the greatest of all time (GOAT) if he defeats Ciryl Gane in his next fight.
Jones, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, has been in a bit of a holding pattern lately. After vacating his light heavyweight title in 2020 to move up to heavyweight, Jones has yet to make his debut in the division. Meanwhile, Gane has been making a name for himself with impressive performances, most recently defeating Derrick Lewis to earn the interim heavyweight title.
Despite Gane’s recent success, White believes that a victory over him would solidify Jones’ place in the GOAT conversation.
“There will be no arguments over who the G.O.A.T. is if he beats Ciryl Gane on Saturday,” White said.
While some fans may argue that Jones’ past transgressions, including failed drug tests and legal issues, should disqualify him from the GOAT conversation, White believes that his accomplishments in the octagon speak for themselves.
It’s worth noting that there are other fighters who could also stake a claim to the title of GOAT. Fighters like Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, and Demetrious Johnson have all put together impressive resumes and could make a case for themselves. However, White seems to believe that Jones’ dominance in the light heavyweight division, combined with his potential to take over the heavyweight division, sets him apart from the rest.
Of course, there is still the matter of Jones actually defeating Gane. While Jones is certainly a formidable opponent, Gane’s size and striking ability could make for a difficult matchup. But if Jones is able to pull off the victory, he could very well cement his status as the GOAT.
Overall, White’s statement may be controversial, but it’s also a testament to the incredible talent of Jon Jones. Only time will tell whether he can live up to the hype and defeat Ciryl Gane, but if he does, he’ll have a strong case for being the greatest fighter in UFC history.
