Jon Jones: Can He Ascend to All-Time Greatness?

Jon Jones is shining like Leroy Green from The Last Dragon.

Fresh off his UFC 128 curb-stomping of former light heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, some have already made Nostradamus-like predictions about Jones one day being considered the greatest MMA fighter of all-time.

Despite the premature nature of this sentiment, it's hard to ignore the magnitude of Jones' performance over a legendary warrior like Shogun. In nearly a decade of professional competition, Shogun has never been handled by any man the way he was against Jones. There is a legitimate excuse that could be made for just about every Shogun loss up until this point.

Against Renato "Babalu" Sobral, Shogun was relatively inexperienced in a bout with a seasoned veteran. The first bout with Mark Coleman was stopped in the first round due to Shogun falling awkwardly and dislocating his elbow.

A couple of knee injuries, including one suffered during the fight, aided in Forrest Griffin's upset over Shogun. The unanimous decision loss to Lyoto Machida is often considered one of the most controversial decisions in MMA history.

There are no excuses to be made against Jones. Yes, Shogun was coming off another knee surgery, but before the fight, he claimed to be in optimum shape. As hard as it is for some to admit, Shogun was at his best at UFC 128, but sometimes, your best just isn't good enough.

Jones kept the future Hall-of-Famer guessing with pinpoint accuracy, unorthodox strikes, and seamless takedowns. At only 23 years of age, Jones made one of MMA's all-time greats look like he didn't belong.

This brings up a highly-debated question. Can Jon Jones ascend to all-time greatness?

The words "will" and "can" are essential when attempting to predict any fighter's future. The quick answer to the latter word is yes. Jones has all of the tools necessary to become the greatest fighter in MMA history, but no one can be completely sure about the future.

As you read this article, another guy with otherworldly potential is working hard and biding his time for an opportunity to showcase his skills.

The light heavyweight division is arguably the most stacked in the sport. With opponents like Rashad Evans, Quinton Jackson and Machida waiting in the wings, Jones will definitely have his hands full. Who's to say he doesn't slip-up in a fight or two?

The apex of Jones' career could be millenniums away, and he has already crossed the most important threshold by becoming a UFC champion. The questions about the hype died in the first round against Shogun. Jon Jones is every bit as good as he's hyped up to be.

On the ground, he has shown suffocating top control, creative submission maneuvers, nasty ground-and-pound and great submission awareness.

Barring credentials, Jones could be the best MMA wrestler in the light heavyweight division. He is great at using his striking to setup takedowns in the open.

His Greco-Roman skills also make him a dangerous grappler in the clinch, where he is already devastating with his Muay Thai.

In the standup exchanges, Jones has proven to be crafty and accurate, and not to mention, he has the longest reach in UFC history.

With Jones' fast track to stardom, there will certainly be critics. Let's just hope they've stacked up on bottled water and canned goods because it's going to be long ride.

(SportsHaze.com Original)

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