Jon Jones

Jones was born in Rochester, New York, on July 19, 1987. At the Mount Sinai Church of God in Christ in Binghamton, New York, his father Arthur serves as the pastor. Jon’s career as a fighter was opposed by Arthur because he wanted Jon to preach, but Jones was against it. Camille, Jon’s mother, lost her fight with diabetes and passed away in 2017 at the age of 55.

One of four kids, Jon was. His younger brother Chandler plays outside linebacker with the Las Vegas Raiders, while his older brother Arthur is a former defensive lineman in American football who played for the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, and Washington Redskins. Before turning 18, Carmen, his older sister, passed away from a brain tumor.

In upstate New York, he wrestled and later won the state championship. Additionally, Jon won the National Judo Championship while he was a college student. Eventually, he would leave school to begin his MMA career. Jones immediately transitioned to the professional ranks and made his ring debut at Untamed 20 in April 2008 against Brad Bernard, defeating Bernard by TKO (punches) in the first frame. Before joining the UFC, he had a perfect 6-0 record.

At UFC 87 in 2008, Jon Jones made his professional debut in a last-minute matchup against Andre Gusmao. Jones would win by a unanimous vote to extend his winning run. Before facing Matt Hamill in the tenth season finale of The Ultimate Fighter, he overcame Stephan Bonnar and Jake O’Brien. Given that Hamill’s shoulder dislocated as a result of Jon’s use of unlawful 12-6 elbows, this was Jon’s first defeat. The referee was compelled to rule in Hamill’s favor.

Before facing his first well-known opponent Ryan Bader at UFC 126, Jones bounced back from his defeat by TKOing Brandon Vera and Vladimir Matyushenko. By way of guillotine choke submission in the second round, Jones prevailed. Jon competed against Mauricio Shogun Rua for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship one month later. Jones dominated Shogun throughout the contest, and in the third round, he TKO’d him with a flying knee to become the organization’s youngest champion ever.

At UFC 133, Jones was supposed to face Rashad Evans, however, the fight was postponed because of Jon’s hand injury. Instead, Jones defended his championship against Quinton Jackson at UFC 135 and used a rear-naked choke to finish the opponent in the fourth round. Before losing the championship and being barred from competing for a year, Jones dominated the Light Heavyweight class, defeating fighters like Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen, Alexander Gustafsson, Glover Teixeira, and Daniel Cormier.

At UFC 197, Jones made a comeback and faced Ovince Siant Preux for the interim UFC light heavyweight title when Daniel Cormier withdrew due to a foot injury. The rematch between Jones and Cormier was supposed to take place at UFC 200, but it was postponed when Jones was flagged by USADA for a possible doping offense. Jones also lost his interim championship and received a one-year suspension from the USADA. The Nevada State Athletic Commission also gave Jon a one-year ban in December.

At UFC 214, he competed against Daniel Cormier for the Light Heavyweight Championship. Jon would eventually prevail by TKO (Head Kick and Punches), but the outcome was changed to a No-Contest after Jon tested positive for a metabolite of the anabolic steroid turinabol. At UFC 232, Jon then competed against Alexander Gustaffson for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight title. He used ground and pound to win the match in the third round, becoming the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion twice. After that, he defended the championship against Dominick Reyes, Anthony Smith, and Thiago Santos before relinquishing the title to be ready to switch to the heavyweight division.