Demetrious Johnson can’t consider UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones undefeated.
Outside of a 2009 disqualification loss to Matt Hamill for using then-illegal 12-6 elbows, Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) has never lost in MMA. He dominated generations of light heavyweight talent as champion, then successfully claimed a second UFC belt at heavyweight after Francis Ngannou left the promotion.
Johnson, the record holder for most consecutive UFC title defenses, says Jones’ blemish can’t be ignored, even if it’s a disqualification.
“He did lose. He lost to Matt Hamill. Yep, he f*cking lost. He broke the rules,” Johnson said on the “JAXXON PODCAST.” “A loss is a loss. Whether you win by a second or five miles, winning is winning. … 28 wins and one loss, he lost to Matt Hamill. UFC, Ultimate Fighter 10, December 5th, 2009, disqualification, illegal elbows. It’s still a loss, motherf*cker. His record shows 28-1-1.”
Johnson said he does consider Jones one of the greatest to ever do it and has constantly defended him when people exclude him from the GOAT conversation due to his history with failed drug tests.
But he’s not ready to acknowledge him as an undefeated fighter.
“Has Jon Jones ever gotten finished or what not? No, he has not,” Johnson said. “But he did get disqualified, which led to a loss, so he has lost before.”
Jones notched his first heavyweight title defense when he finished Stipe Miocic by Round 3 TKO at UFC 309 this past November. He is expected to face interim champion Tom Aspinall in a title-unification bout next.
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This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC legend Demetrious Johnson rubbishes claims of Jon Jones never losing: ‘He broke the rules’
