The Algorithm Age

This is how one of the ‘great’ fighting careers ends : at 2am in Azerbaijan, 11 minutes into a press conference, with UFC president Dana White only making the revelation when prompted by a journalist. Jon Jones is gone. Is it too strong to say “good riddance”? Some might never back down from arguing that the American is the most fearsome fighter to have ever walked the planet . Jones is, after all, a former two-time light-heavyweight champion, was never beaten outside of an unfortunate disqualification, and boasts a ridiculous resume including wins over multiple greats: Daniel Cormier (twice), “Shogun” Rua, “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen, and Stipe Miocic – to name just some. Now 37, Jones became the youngest-ever UFC champion by collecting gold aged 23. Later, in the final stanza of a storied career, he claimed two-weight champion status, adding the heavyweight belt to his crammed cabinet in 2023. What a shame, then, t...

This is how one of the ‘great’ fighting careers ends : at 2am in Azerbaijan, 11 minutes into a press conference, with UFC president Dana White only making the revelation when prompted by a journalist. Jon Jones is gone. Is it too strong to say “good riddance”? Some might never back down from arguing that the American is the most fearsome fighter to have ever walked the planet . Jones is, after all, a former two-time light-heavyweight champion, was never beaten outside of an unfortunate disqualification, and boasts a ridiculous resume including wins over multiple greats: Daniel Cormier (twice), “Shogun” Rua, “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen, and Stipe Miocic – to name just some. Now 37, Jones became the youngest-ever UFC champion by collecting gold aged 23. Later, in the final stanza of a storied career, he claimed two-weight champion status, adding the heavyweight belt to his crammed cabinet in 2023. What a shame, then, t...