Jon Jones has a very long list of seriously impressive MMA wins.
While he may still go on to record even better victories, he’ll be hard-pressed to score a more brutal win than the one picked up against UFC legend Lyoto Machida in 2011.
‘Bones’ became the youngest champion in company history when he stopped Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua in one round to claim light-heavyweight gold at 23 years old.
The now-35-year-old breezed through his first title defence against Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson before being booked to face Machida, a karate expert, and prolific knockout artist.
However, he was no match for Jones. In round two, Machida was caught in a standing guillotine choke that rendered him unconscious before the champion released his grip and the Brazilian fell lifeless to the floor.
The greatest 205lb fighter in MMA history, ran over to his corner to celebrate with his team but his coach, Greg Jackson, could be heard instructing Jones to show concern for his opponent in order to win fans.
Jackson said: "Jon! Jon Jones! Go check on Machida, get some fans."
A clip of his comments went viral and fans assumed Jackson was asking his fighter to fake concern for his stricken opponent after being labelled ‘arrogant’ in the lead-up to UFC 140.
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The Jackson Wink MMA Academy trainer later admitted that his comments came across poorly but stressed he was simply trying to teach his fighter how to be a good winner.
Jackson told MMA Junkie in December 2011. "I shouldn't have spoken in that way, but that wasn't my intention. It sounded bad, but moronic s*** comes out of my mouth sometimes.
"What I was saying was, 'Go check on Lyoto.’ What I meant was to remember that you're a public figure.
“There's always attention on you and what you're doing all the time, and there's cage etiquette. There's things you're supposed to do, and going and checking on somebody is what you're supposed to do.
"And now because I'm in military mode and in shorthand mode, I say, 'Jon, go check on Lyoto and go get some fans,' and what I should have said was: ‘You're a public figure. There's a way to conduct yourself.'”
Twelve years later, Jones is regarded by many as the best UFC fighter of all time but his relationship with the fans has been seriously harmed by several failed drug tests and drunken arrests.
On Saturday, he hopes to further cement his greatest fighter ever status by beating Ciry Gane and winning the heavyweight title at UFC 285 in Las Vegas.
It’ll be his first fight in more than three years after he decided to take time off the bulk up following a contentious decision win over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February 2020.
Jones revealed his new heavyweight physique for the first time on Wednesday but not everyone was impressed with the results of the three-year body transformation.
Despite receiving criticism, the Hall of Famer insists he feels great after putting on 45 pounds and will show he's got the 'strength and explosiveness of a lion' on fight night.
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