Coach Picks Khabib Nurmagomedov Over Jon Jones as MMA GOAT

Javier Mendez recently explained why he believes Khabib
Nurmagomedov is the greatest MMA fighter of all time over
Jon
Jones. 

Nurmagomedov’s longtime coach, Mendez, recently picked him as the
MMA GOAT. Mendez also explained that he would have certainly picked
Jones as the GOAT if not for the multiple PED violations. Mendez
notes that several Olympic medallists have had their medals taken
away after they were found cheating. According to Mendez, Jones
can’t be considered the GOAT if the same logic applies to MMA.

Transgressions Should Be Punished

“The GOAT for me is Khabib, and I would put Jon Jones in
that category, but I can’t,” Mendez said on the Ahmed Mahmood show.
“If you’re caught doing something you shouldn’t have been doing,
how can you be considered at the top of the league? This is a true
sport, and in a true sport you cannot put that person ahead. How
many people have won Olympic gold medals and then they find out
they cheated one way or another and got the medals taken away from
them? If it’s true for every other sport, it should be true for MMA
too.”

Nurmagomedov (29-0) defended the lightweight title thrice before
retiring as the undefeated champion in 2020. Meanwhile, Jones
(28-1) defended his light heavyweight title 12 times, the most in

UFC history, before moving up to heavyweight. “Bones” won the
heavyweight title and defended it once before retiring. The only
loss in Jones’ record was by disqualification due to a 12-to-6
elbow, a move that has since been legalized. However, Jones’ career
is marred by multiple drug testing violations and skirmishes with
the law due to his unruly personal life. While Jones was rallying
for a return at the White House, he recently changed tune after
news of his arthritis was leaked.