There is no doubt that Jon Jones is one of, if not the most well-known names in UFC history after a superb career spanning 17 years. And now elite coach Javier Mendez has laid claim to that, by naming the 39-year-old as the man with the greatest MMA ability of all-time.
Jones retired in 2025 after a career spanning 17 years, winning 28 of his bouts and losing just once, all the way back in 2009 – with 18 of those wins coming as stoppages before the bell.
And Mendez, who coached Khabib Nurmagomedov throughout his career as well as other elite stars such as Islam Makhachev and Daniel Cormier, believes that Jones is top of the tree based on ability alone despite various controversies during his time in the Octagon.
Jon Jones is the GOAT but rules are rules
Speaking to Mr. Gamble, Mendez said: “Jon Jones is unbelievably gifted, but rules matter. Rules are rules. Look at Marion Jones or Lance Armstrong.
“Why should our sport have different rules? As far as ability, if you ask me who I think has the greatest ability of all time and one of the greatest minds, I say Jon. But that’s the problem. There’s the asterisk. I don’t think the guy needed anything.
“Based on his skill set, when I saw him early in the UFC 100, I thought, “Oh my gosh, this guy has so much talent.”
Mendez has coached the best in the world
It’s quite the statement from Mendez, who has had the fortune of coaching some of the best talents that MMA has ever seen. Khabib’s record speaks for itself, going 29-0-0 before stepping away from the action in 2020 after beating Justin Gaethje within two rounds at UFC 254.
Islam isn’t far behind, with his record perhaps blemished by a loss to Adriano Martins in 2015, though his catalogue of wins following that certainly has him up there with the best in the world.
Jones, in terms of talent, does deserve his place at the top. And when Mendez says it after the portfolio he boasts, it does become quite a believable statement for UFC fans to latch on to.
