Sherdog’s Top 10: American Mixed Martial Artists

1. Jon Jones

His out-of-competition indiscretions notwithstanding, Jones’ place as one of the most dynamic fighters the sport has ever seen cannot be denied. “Bones” enjoyed a historic reign as UFC light heavyweight champion before his troubles away from the cage led to his being suspended and stripped of the title.

Jones engages strikers in the standup, wrestlers in the clinch and grapplers on the ground. Aside from his back-and-forth war with Alexander Gustafsson, which resulted in a unanimous decision win at UFC 165 in September 2013, he has blown away his contemporaries with consistent excellence. His list of vanquished opponents includes Daniel Cormier, Glover Teixeira, Vitor Belfort, Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida, Quinton Jackson, Mauricio Rua and Ryan Bader.

What makes Jones special is the manner in which he goes about his business inside the Octagon. He never seems to enter a fight with a singular strategy, a Plan B, C, D and E always at the ready. Jones, 29, has rattled off 13 consecutive victories since being disqualified in a December 2009 encounter with Matt Hamill at “The Ultimate Fighter 10” Finale.