Dana White makes definitive statement on Jon Jones' 'GOAT' debate, uses Tom Brady analogy
Jon Jones is set to make his highly anticipated heavyweight debut at UFC 285 after more than three years away from the octagon. UFC President Dana White compared the long-time light heavyweight champion to NFL legend Tom Brady while discussing what winning the heavyweight title will do for his legacy.
Speaking to the media following UFC Fight Night 218, the promotion's frontman stated:
"If Jon Jones - when you talk about his legacy - if he can come in and beat Ciryl Gane, I said this when I talked to you guys last time, nobody can deny that Jon Jones is the greatest of all-time. He comes in and wins this heavyweight division - it's hard to debate if he doesn't win the fight, but, he wins this fight, there's no more talk, there's no more debate, it is what it is."
It doesn't get bigger than this - UFC President @DanaWhite confirms that @JonnyBones will take on @Ciryl_Gane for the ππππππππππ heavyweight championship at #UFC285 π
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Dana White continued:
"It's like [Tom] Brady when Brady left the [New England] Patriots and won with [Tampa Bay] Buccaneers. It's like I get it, you want to hate on Tom Brady, but you can't anymore. That's what's going to happen with Jon Jones if he beats Ciryl Gane."
While Jones is already the 'GOAT' in the eyes of many fans, fighters, and mixed martial arts analysts, adding a heavyweight title will make his claim even harder to deny.
Watch Dana White discuss the greatest of all time debate below:
Dana White says the GOAT argument is OVER if @JonnyBones claims heavyweight gold at #UFC285.
Full video: bit.ly/3I22KsU https://t.co/KqHMQSc8Hc
Jon Jones discusses transformation to heavyweight
Jon Jones will make his heavyweight debut after dominating the light heavyweight division for over a decade. 'Bones' discussed his transformation to heavyweight during a Twitter Spaces conversation with Kanpai Pandas, stating:
"One of the hardest things was not completely losing my shape while still being able to pack on 40 pounds. I think when the fans see me, theyβll be surprised that I still look a lot like I used to - my shoulders are a lot more broad, I freaking gained a whole bunch of a**, unfortunately - but just trying to keep that shape and doing it the right way."
Jones has never been defeated in the octagon - his only loss came via a disqualification that the UFC spent over a decade trying to have overturned. But it remains to be seen what effect, if any, the additional weight will have on him.
He will look to become just the eighth two-division champion in UFC history when he faces Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.
Check out Jon 'Bones' Jones' comments on his heavyweight transformation (starting at the 24:10 mark):
bit.ly/JonesHW
Jon Jones tried to "pack on 40 pounds" during his heavyweight transformation βοΈ
π° bit.ly/JonesHW https://t.co/Vo1EIy7Hzr