UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones returns Saturday at UFC 309 after a more than 20-month layoff to make his long-awaited first title defense.
Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) has endured multiple long layoffs in his career, but now he returns against with a chance to further enhance his legacy when he meets former longtime divisional kingpin Stipe Miocic in the ESPN+ pay-per-view headliner from Madison Square Garden in New York. Prelims air on ESPNews following early prelims on ESPN+.
A title defense in two divisions is something few others have achieved, but “Bones” will have to get through Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) to make it happen. Is he capable? He’s heavily favoured by oddsmakers to do so, and Jones’ record below shows the depth of his accomplishments so far ahead of his comeback fight.
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General statistics
Jon Jones by the numbers
Jones is 1-0 since he moved up to the heavyweight division in March 2023.
He returns to competition for just the second time since February 2020. His previous fight took place in March 2023.
He competes in his 20th main event under the UFC banner, the second-most in company history behind Anderson Silva (21).
He competed 22 UFC light heavyweight bouts before moving up, the fourth-most appearances in divisional history behind Ovince Saint Preux (24), Mauricio Rua (24) and Glover Teixeira (23).
His current 18-fight UFC unbeaten streak in light heavyweight competition is the longest active streak in the division and longest in the history of the weight class. It’s also the longest UFC unbeaten streak among active fighters.
His 19-fight unbeaten streak in UFC competition is the longest in company history.
He is one of 10 fighters in UFC history to earn 21 or more octagon victories.
His 20 UFC light heavyweight victories are the most in divisional history.
His 10 decision victories in UFC light heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
His 10 stoppage victories in UFC light heavyweight competition are third-most in divisional history behind Teixeira (13) and Saint Preux (11).
His five submission victories in UFC light heavyweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Teixeira (seven) and Paul Craig (six).
He’s defeated seven fighters who once held an undisputed UFC belt, the most of any active fighter in the organization.
His eight fight-night bonuses for UFC light heavyweight bouts are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Teixeira (10).
His reach of 84.5 inches is longest in the light heavyweight division and longest among active UFC fighters.
Jon Jones championship stats
Jon Jones
At 23 years, 8 months old, Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history when he defeated “Shogun” Rua for the light heavyweight title at UFC 128 in March 2011.
At 24 years, 2 months, 5 days old, he became the youngest fighter in UFC history to defend a title when he defeated Quinton Jackson at UFC 135.
He is one of nine fighters in history to win titles in two weight classes. Alex Pereira, Randy Couture, B.J. Penn, Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo and Amanda Nunes accomplished the feat.
He is one of three fighters to win titles in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. Couture and Cormier accomplished the feat.
His two UFC light heavyweight title reigns are tied with Couture for most in divisional history.
His first title reign of 1,501 days is the longest in UFC light heavyweight history.
His 15 victories in UFC title fights are most in company history.
His seven stoppage victories in UFC title fights are tied with Demetrious Johnson for third-most in company history behind Anderson Silva (nine) and Matt Hughes (eight).
His 623 days between winning the heavyweight title and making his first defense is the longest stretch of any champion in company history.
Jon Jones in-fight stats
Jones has never been knocked down or submitted in MMA competition.
His 23 fights without knocked out in UFC competition are second-most among active fighters on the roster behind Marlon Vera (24).
His 1,835 total strikes landed in UFC light heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
His 1,463 significant strikes landed in UFC light heavyweight competition are the most in divisional history.
His 42 takedowns landed in UFC light heavyweight competition are fourth most in divisional history behind Corey Anderson (53), Rashad Evans (50) and Ryan Bader (46).
He’s been taken down only twice in his 27-fight career, with 35 of 37 takedowns defended (95 percent) in his UFC tenure. Alexander Gustafsson dragged him to the mat once at UFC 165. Cormier also took him down once – a slam he immediately got up from – at UFC 182.
His takedown defense rate of 95 percent is the second-best in UFC history behind Julio Arce (96.2 percent).
He’s one of three fighters in UFC history to earn two fourth-round finishes. He accomplished the feat at UFC 152 and UFC 135.
His total fight time of 5:40:15 in UFC light heavyweight competition is most in divisional history.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.
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