Surprising loss in Jon Jones’ career; a look at the former Iowa Central Community College representative’s wrestling career

A student of the fabled wrestling mats at Iowa Central Community College, Jon Jones has really come a long way. From being a collegiate standout to the consensus MMA GOAT, ‘Bones’ has spent his life honing his skills with surgical precision. The stage is set for his upcoming legacy match against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, which is heavily rumored to be the duo’s last rodeo.

With Jones, a wrestler, and Miocic, a striker, ready in the Octagon this weekend, oddsmakers and analysts are heavily favoring ‘Bones’. With over 16 years of dominance in the cage, it seems that no one has ever been able to surpass his grappling skills. However, this is not entirely true. While Jones has been dominant, he is not completely immune to failure. In fact, he has suffered two wrestling losses in his career – and both were to the same person. So let’s take a closer look at his overall wrestling career and what it means for Jones’ upcoming bout.

Jon Jones’ Wrestling Career: What Weight Did He Wrestle In High School?

Growing up with athletic brothers, Jon Jones may not have been destined to become an American football player, but those formative years helped shape him into the formidable MMA fighter he is today. His Greco-Roman wrestling in particular became a nightmare for the divisions he competed in. Before making a name for himself in the UFC, Jones was already a force in wrestling, despite his limited frame.

Jon Jones‘ journey began at 189 pounds in high school at Union-Endicott, and he later competed at 197 pounds, leading his team at Iowa Central Community College to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) wrestling championships. Reflecting on his brother’s journey, Jon’s older brother, Arthur Jones, stated that Jon was not naturally gifted, but his hard work made the difference. He said, “In football, he wasn’t the best player. He couldn’t catch a cold. They tried to find a position where he could play.”

Arthur added, “His senior year, he got the team’s ‘most improved player.’ He played right next to me defensively and it was cool to be out there with him. He finally got to start his senior year. He was always willing to prove, that someone was wrong.” Despite his college wrestling success, Jones dominated the sport, just as he does in MMA right now. But his seemingly smooth journey was strained in high school.

Who did Jon Jones lose to in high school wrestling?

Today, in the MMA scene, it’s hard for anyone to stand up to Jon Jones’ wrestling skills, which even Olympic standouts and former UFC heavyweight champions like Daniel Cormier have struggled to match. However, mainstream media has been circulating the incorrect narrative that Jon Jones was overwhelmed by a former WWE star.

In fact, Jon Jones recently came forward to clear up the misunderstanding, stating that he actually faced Jack Sullivan, not Matt Riddle, in high school. Unfortunately, he was defeated and placed 3rd. Jones wrote on X, “Some of these guys will say anything for their influence. If you actually did your homework, you’d realize I’ve never fought Matt Riddle. I fought Jack Sullivan in the semis (04) and lost.”

Sullivan and Riddle battled for the top spot, but the following year Jones avenged his loss to Sullivan. Jones later added, “Then Jack beat our senior year to win the New York State high school wrestling championships like a boss. Fast Lane, master sh**t, way back in high school.”

Now all eyes are on the long-awaited showdown in New York at UFC 309where Stipe Miocic will rely on his strike to outwit Jon Jones. The question remains: Can Miocic withstand Jones’ dominant wrestling, or will he fall like those before him? Drop your prediction below: Jones or Miocic?