Gilbert Burns of Brazil reacts after defeating Mike Davis during their lightweight bout at UFC Fight Night. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Jon Jones doesn’t believe Khabib Nurmagomedov is the MMA GOAT after the Russian’s retirement
Khabib Nurmagomedov retiring from MMA came as a huge shock for all those who had just witnessed UFC 254.
The Russian dismantled Justin Gaethje to go 29-0 in his MMA career. However, Khabib confirmed he was retiring from the sport after a promise he made to his mother.
The Russian also seemed to be affected by the loss of his father earlier in the year and this was his first fight without Abdulmanap beside him.
Many have suggested that Khabib will go down as the greatest of all-time (GOAT) in the sport of MMA.
However, some have also named Jon Jones as being the GOAT. The former UFC Light Heavyweight champion relinquished his title to move up to the Heavyweight division.
Jones posted a video where he spoke of his 14 title defences and how he was still active. The American also claimed that the only person who could come close was Georges St-Pierre and he still would need a few more title defences to get level with Jones.
Khabib, despite being 29-0, only had a few title defences in his career, but he has support from a lot of people.
Jones, for all he has done in the Octagon, doesn’t have the best of stories outside of it. He has been arrested several times for alcohol-related issues and was in the news for that recently too.
The American has failed drug tests in the past and has been sanctioned by the UFC too. Jones also had one title win taken away from him after testing positive for turinabol, and that was something that Gilbert Burns brought out.
The Brazilian questioned Jones’ past and also suggested that the American was contradicting his statements from a while back.
Naming a GOAT in MMA is difficult given the different eras the stars have come out in. Khabib and Jones have been excellent during their MMA careers but Khabib is undefeated while Jones has had his run-ins with the law.
Jones, for his part, was untouchable in the Light Heavyweight division too, but his drugs use has always divided fans when discussing if he is the GOAT or not.
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