Jon Jones is one of mixed martial arts' most dominant champions, and fans keep debating who would rule any era. A recent SOG Sports tier list placed Jones alongside Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson, and Anderson Silva in a top GOAT tier, combining a staggering 52 UFC title-fight wins between them, with Jones alone holding the record at 16. GSP is often credited with the cleanest resume thanks to his complete, whirling-dervish well-roundedness, while Khabib Nurmagomedov's perfect 29-0 record keeps him in the conversation despite fewer title defenses. Rankings sites continue shifting the debate after every major 2026 card, with Islam Makhachev now entering cross-era comparisons after passing Khabib's own peak numbers. Known for relentless dominance and ferocious adaptability, these names remain combat sports' most timeless measuring sticks. #ufc #mma #tierlist
The greatest-of-all-time argument keeps moving, and Islam Makhachev is now part of it. A recent SOG Sports tier list grouped Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson and Anderson Silva in its top GOAT tier, a quartet that combines for 52 UFC title-fight wins. Jones alone holds the record at 16. Rankings sites continue to reshuffle the debate after every major 2026 card, and Makhachev has entered cross-era comparisons after passing Khabib Nurmagomedov's peak numbers.
Jones, nicknamed Bones, is 28-1 and 39 years old. The orthodox fighter stands six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach, a 213 cm span that has long defined his style. He lands 4.38 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, and averages 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes.
St-Pierre, 26-2 at age 45, represents the opposing case. The Canadian from Tristar Gym is often credited with the cleanest resume, built on complete, well-rounded skills. His wrestling remains the standout number: 4.16 takedowns per 15 minutes, with 1.1 submission attempts over the same span. He lands 3.78 significant strikes per minute at 53 percent accuracy.
Silva, 51, is 34-11 and fights out of Team Nogueira. The Brazilian southpaw stands six-foot-two with a 77-inch reach. His striking accuracy of 61 percent is the highest of the three, on a modest 3.05 significant strikes landed per minute.
Khabib's unbeaten 29-0 record keeps him in the conversation despite fewer title defenses than his peers.
Why it matters
- Title-fight wins are the headline currency, and Jones's 16 sets the bar any modern champion must chase.
- Makhachev surpassing Khabib's peak numbers pushes him toward the same tier-list discussions as the sport's all-time names.
- The debate pits volume of dominance against perfection of record, with Khabib's 29-0 and GSP's resume as the competing models.
