Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) recently named current Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones its "top fighter" in the 2011 half-year awards.
And for good reason.
"Bones" is 13-1 including a March 19 massacre of former titleholder Mauricio Rua. In fact, his destruction of "Shogun" was, what many critics have called, his final hurdle in becoming one of the world's best combat sports athletes.
But does that make him the new pound-for-pound king?
That may depend on his performance against former division champion Quinton Jackson, who challenges the lanky-but-lethal light heavyweight at UFC 135 on Sept. 24 in Denver. If he defeats "Rampage," then will Jones be the word's top pound-for-pound mixed martial artist?
Here's UFC President Dana White's answer:
"Many people think that Jon Jones should be considered one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world, but I wouldn't make that claim too fast. The 205-pound division is and always has been the most stacked division in MMA. Rampage Jackson has been one of the top five light heavyweights in the world since 2003. A win over Rampage Jackson will definitely put Jon Jones on the right track for becoming the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world."
Jackson earned his shot at the 205-pound crown by beating the brakes off Matt Hamill just over a month ago at the UFC 130 event on May 28 in Las Vegas, Nevada. "Rampage" battered and bruised "The Hammer," out-striking him by a margin of 61-34 and stuffing all 17 of the NCAA wrestler's takedown attempts.
But he's also struggled against former champions Forrest Griffin and Rashad Evans, the latter of whom is expected to provide the stiffest test for Jones should the stars eventually align and create a "Jones vs. Evans" grudge match.
And let's not forget about Lyoto Machida.
So how about it Maniacs, does a win over Jackson give Jones the title of pound-for-pound king? Or has he already earned it?
Or do you agree with Dana and think it's too soon?
Opinions, please.
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