Ahead of the title fight, Jon Jones’ legacy as the greatest fighter in UFC history is overshadowed by personal issues

NEW YORK (AP) — The UFC runs a card-of-the-year contender every November at Madison Square Garden, where the main event bouts often stand as a referendum on the company’s endless debate:

Who is the “Greatest of All Time” in the UFC?

Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre and Daniel Cormier have all been choked, grabbed, punched inside the cage at MSG.

Everyone at one point could lay claim to being the best MMA fighter to headline in New York.

The true GOAT may be on deck when star-crossed Jon Jones makes his anticipated Garden debut for his heavyweight title fight Saturday night at UFC 309.

“It’s all a huge honor to have your face on the billboards in Times Square,” Jones said.

Better to have a hand raised in victory.

Jones is set to defend his title – a year after the fight was postponed when he suffered one torn pectoral tendon in training – against two-time heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.

Rehab is over, a year of hype has reached its crescendo, and the fighters are ready to throw down.

“Everybody cares about this fight, it feels like,” Jones said.

The 37-year-old Jones has not fought since completing a three-year sabbatical and choking Cyril Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023. Miocic, 42, last fought when he dropped the belt to Francis Ngannou at UFC 280 in March 2021.

Jones excites a crowd like few fighters outside of McGregor can, wherever he travels. After a series of undercard fighters came-and-went in a Midtown Manhattan hotel conference room, most of the MMA media immediately stood and filled the stage with their smartphones for snapshots as Jones took the microphone. His UFC belt resting on the table, Jones wasn’t quite ready for a fashion shoot; he walked briefly in his black short-sleeved shirt to find a jacket.

(“It’s a little chilly in here.”)

Jones is chilled by the thought of fighting his next challenger should he defeat Miocic. British fighter Tom Aspinall has held down the division as Interim Heavyweight Champion – a title necessitated by Jones’ long absence – and has been chirping for months about a unification match.

Probably trying to troll the overzealous Aspinall, Jones says he has no interest in that fight.

“What’s in it for me?” Jones said.

Apart from a profane shot as Aspinall, Jones was eloquent and expressive when discussing his heritage, impeccable manners befitting a man raised by a priest and nurse it belies a personal life haunted by demons that have tarnished his reputation and career.

His list of offenses extends beyond his number of title fights, a document that includes doping suspensions, arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery domestic violence, arrested for aggravated DWI, and a hit-and-run event at the top of the list legal and violations of the code of conduct.

His second win against Cormier, his longtime foil, was overturned in 2017 to a no-contest after Jones tested positive for the steroid Turinabo. Cormier, a former two-division champion who now calls fights for ESPN, said Jones’ repeated offenses should factor into the “GOAT” debate.

“This is his big week and he should be praised and applauded,” Cormier said in an interview with The Associated Press. “But for me it’s just difficult. When I was on the outside and on the other end of all those problems, that’s where the problem comes. I’m not jealous of Jon Jones. I really don’t care. It’s hard for me to say that someone is the best at anything ever when you have so many of the negative things attached to your name, especially in matches. You cannot test positive for steroids in matches, so that makes it difficult.”

Jones spoke in loose terms about living with regrets, but otherwise dismissed his detractors by quoting scripture and saying, “I’m very aware that the man I am today has turned out to be a pretty solid person.”

Try tossing out his rap sheet — though it’s as attached to his legacy as the belt around his waist — and Jones boasts career accomplishments that make him a no-brainer as perhaps MMA’s greatest of all time.

As a 23-year-old, he was youngest champion in UFC history when he beat Maurício Rua for the light heavyweight crown. His lone professional defeat came in 2009 on a disputed DQ for illegal elbows. Jones holds the light heavyweight division records for most title defenses, most wins and longest streak before vacating his belt. He then won his heavyweight debut against Palate.

The loudest cheerleader among those who believe Jones is the best just might be the champion himself.

“If I’ve come this close to being considered in that conversation, I might as well embrace it,” Jones said. “I might as well speak for myself because it doesn’t happen often to reach this level. What I have done is something very special.”

Jones has teased retirement should he beat Miocic – the challenger will almost call it a one-loss career – but has also called for a fight against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

“Pereira is worth the risk to me,” Jones said. “I’m looking for the old stuff.”

Jones can only fill his GOAT credentials if he were to beat Miocic and submit firefighter back to Ohio a title match lose.

Even his fiercest rival cannot deny Jones’ MMA greatness.

“I’ve never fought anybody better than Jon Jones,” Cormier said.

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