UFC 135 Results: Jon Jones Isn't Just Great, He's Already the Best Ever

The main event at UFC 135 proved that Jon Jones is for real. The 24-year old phenom annihilated former champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson for three full rounds before finally submitting him in the fourth.

The dominance he displayed was just the latest in what is becoming a long run of fights where Jones hasn’t even truly been tested. Early in his career, we all thought that it was just because he wasn’t fighting top competition—but now he’s doing it against some of the very best fighters in the world.

There’s no doubt that Jones is the top light heavyweight right now, but there’s also a very real case to be made that he is the best ever at 205 pounds.

In order to determine that, though, we have to take a look back at the other top light heavyweights in history. These five fighters have secured their place in history among the elite in their weight class and are in the conversation of being the best ever.

5. Tito Ortiz

MMA Record: 16-9-1

He may not look like it anymore, but Tito Ortiz was once one of the most dominant champions in UFC history.

Ortiz actually lost his first shot at the title to Frank Shamrock at UFC 22, but once Shamrock forfeited the title, the division was left open for Ortiz’s reign.

He would win the title in his next fight by defeating Wanderlei Silva at UFC 25.  Ortiz then went on to defend the title five times before finally losing it to Randy Couture at UFC 44.

His run as champion is still the longest in light heavyweight title history and if he would have retired years ago, he might have been higher on this list. But unfortunately, his late-career losing record puts him at fifth of all time.

4. Frank Shamrock

MMA Record: 23-10

The very first champion at this weight in the UFC, Frank Shamrock also has to be considered one of the best ever.

After putting together a great career in Pancrase, Shamrock made his debut at UFC Japan where he became the UFC light heavyweight champion (called the UFC middleweight championship at the time) by defeating Kevin Jackson.

Shamrock would go on to defend the title four times, including defeating Tito Ortiz, before vacating the title due to his belief that there were no worthy opponents for him to fight in the organization.

3. Wanderlei Silva

MMA Record: 33-11-1

Wanderlei Silva was perhaps the most dominant fighter on the planet for nearly five years. His unbelievable run in saw him go 15-0-2 from Pride 10 through Pride 28 when he destroyed Quinton “Rampage” Jackson for the second time in 12 months.

Silva eventually made his transition to the UFC and has struggled like many others, but there is no doubting that he is one of the best ever. Victories over Rampage Jackson, Kazushi Sakuraba, Dan Henderson and countless others solidify his spot as at least the third-best light heavyweight of all time.

2. Chuck Liddell

MMA Record: 21-8

No one in UFC history has dominated the 205-pound division in the way that Chuck Liddell has. His run from UFC 47 through UFC 66 saw him destroy seven straight opponents, all with punches, while becoming the UFC light heavyweight champion.

His run included victories over Jeremy Horn, Babalu Sobral, as well as two victories against both Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture. Needless to say, the man looked to be completely unstoppable.

That is, until his fight with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 71. Jackson stood up with Liddell throughout the fight and clipped him with a punch that knocked “The Iceman” out.

The legendary Liddell would lose a total of five of his final six fights before finally retiring. Still, his unbelievable run had him ranked as the best light heavyweight of all-time...until now.

1. Jon Jones

MMA Record: 14-1

It looked as if Chuck Liddell’s spot as the greatest light heavyweight in history might never be questioned. But with Jon Jones’ run in 2011, the discussion has officially begun.

We have seen dominant champions before. Guys like Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre have completely cleaned out their divisions. Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva and Fedor Emelianenko looked like they were never going to lose... But none of them have ever looked like Jon Jones does right now.

Fifteen fights into his career, Jon Jones has not even been truly challenged by an opponent. This includes three victories in 2011 over consensus top-10 opponents Ryan Bader, Shogun Rua and Rampage Jackson.

There will come a day when Jon Jones doesn’t destroy opponents like this, but it doesn’t look like it’s coming any time soon. The scariest thing is that, at 24 years old, Jones is already the best ever—and the best is still yet to come.