UFC 145: Jon Jones Is Not Muhammad Ali

Whoa.

Whoa whoa whoa.

Whoa.

Let’s just back the truck up a little bit here, folks. Saying the wrong, crazy thing at the wrong time has gotten a lot of people in trouble over the course of history, so let’s all just relax a little. Outside of a few weirdos out there, nobody likes the taste of their own foot in their mouth.

There has been plenty of praise heaped on current UFC light heavyweight champion and athletic phenom Jon Jones, who’s demolished everyone put in front of him during his MMA career. The bigger the name, the worse the beating he’s levied, and that’s impressive.

But he’s no Muhammad Ali. Not yet, and probably not ever.

Sure, many of you may say the claims aren’t rampant, or at least aren’t made that often outside of the PR machine developing the brand of a young champion with mainstream appeal.

That’s fine. It’s better than fine, actually. It’s probably an outright fact.

However, if it’s starting at the top with the UFC, it won’t be long before it’s becoming popular opinion and fodder for discussion. It goes back to saying something so many times that people believe it.

The thing is, though, is that it’s just plain not true.

Muhammad Ali is a cultural icon, known as much for his religious beliefs, political persecution, inspirational quotes and general ascendance to becoming the voice of a generation as he is for his athletic accomplishments.

Even now, 30 years retired and wracked with medical issues, looking far older than his 70 years, he’s an inescapable part of society. His words have been mythologized, his actions the stuff of legend. Truthfully, all that he is, has been, and will be is summarized by the fact that there is only one Ali.

Nobody—absolutely nobody—in his or her right mind can make that claim about Jon Jones.

At best, he’s a young champion in a sport with a growing audience. At worst he’s an unknown to a mainstream audience that won’t ever particularly care what he does or doesn’t do.

The truth on Jones and what he is, both to his sport and in society, lies somewhere in between those two extremes. One thing he isn’t, however, is a cultural icon.

That’s not to say it couldn’t ever happen. Mixed martial arts has taken major strides towards replacing boxing as the premier combat sport around the globe, and within a decade it’s not hard to envision the UFC doing boxing level pay-per-view numbers. Presently 24 years old, it’s also not hard to envision Jones still in the title mix—even still holding his title, for how dominant he’s been to this point in his reign—when his promotion is on top of the PPV world.

We live in 2012, though. MMA isn’t there yet, the UFC isn’t there yet, and Jon Jones isn’t there yet.

At this stage in the game, all Jones has in common with Ali is a polarizing personality, incredible athletic gifts and a title on his mantle.

He hasn’t been what Ali is and was culturally, and he probably never will be. He hasn’t meant to his sport what Ali did, and he needs to have more than a couple of good years to even come close. He hasn’t drawn the mainstream attention that Ali did, and until his sport is better understood, he won’t.

The UFC shouldn’t be put at fault for trying to build its young star into the next Muhammad Ali. Trying anything less would be missing out on a good marketing opportunity, but if people are planning on mindlessly jumping on board, they should re-think their stance. 

Have some perspective.

Jones isn’t there yet, but he’s being given the chance to try. Until his journey plays out one way or another, though, there is only one worthy of being called “The Greatest.”