Dana White: "Incredible" UFC Champ Jon Jones now the #2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Following a win over Lyoto Machida at UFC 140, his fourth of 2011, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones is rightfully gaining praise as one of the very best fighters in the world. In fact, UFC President Dana White places him only behind Anderson Silva on his pound for pound rankings, as he told reporters after the event (captured by MMAWeekly.com):

"[Jones is] number two," White said when asked where he ranked. "I mean, I don't know how you deny the guy anymore. He's literally walked through everybody. He's fought four times this year, probably the nastiest schedule in the history of the company."

"He's incredible, man. I hate to talk too much about it - because he's so young, [and] you don't wanna put that kind of stuff in a guy's head who is that young - but he's walking through serious, serious guys and busting 'em up bad. Stopping them. Finishing them. You don't see somebody come in and wreck people like this guy [has]."

Penick's Analysis: It's hard to argue against Jones' spot as the #1 or #2 best fighter on the planet. I lean towards putting him ahead of Anderson Silva right now, even though Silva's been incredibly dominant in his own right. But Jones hasn't shown any real weakness in his game, and has taken out an impressive level of competition, not to mention putting forth perhaps the best single year a fighter has ever had in this sport. He's an incredible fighter inside the Octagon, and regardless of what you think about him outside the cage, that fact can't be denied.

[Jon Jones art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_11698.shtml

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