Fighters discussion board: Are Jon Jones and Amanda Nunes the very best of all time?

LAS VEGAS — Jon Jones and Amanda Nunes each have headlining roles at UFC 239 on Saturday. Jones is regarded by many as the highest pound-for-pound males’s fighter ever. Nunes has that very same distinction amongst girls.

Do their UFC 239 friends agree with that? ESPN requested them that and 7 different questions Thursday at media day.

Is Jon Jones the best male fighter ever?

Claudia Gadelha: I believe Anderson Silva is the very best. He was on prime for therefore lengthy. He beat all people. He was so dominant in a time when everybody was attempting to filter the highest. He beat all people, and badly. Jon Jones is a technical fighter, he is a tremendous fighter. However I believe he must do some extra to do what Anderson did. He meant loads to Brazilians. He was the god of MMA in Brazil. I grew up watching him. He had an superior profession.

Jack Marshman: Sure. I have been fortunate sufficient to do some dwell sparring with him after I was at JacksonWink. He is the very best there ever was. Simply his creativity, his athleticism. He is a tremendous fighter. You may’t beat what he does. Sparring was intimidating. He is only a nice fighter.

The UFC has loaded up one other pay-per-view card Saturday, that includes two title fights: Jon Jones vs. Thiago Santos and Amanda Nunes vs. Holly Holm.

UFC 239: Jones vs. Santos
• Early prelims: ESPN+ 6:15 p.m. ET
• Prelims: ESPN eight p.m. ET
• Primary card: ESPN+ PPV 10 p.m. ET – Purchase now | Get ESPN+ assist

UFC 239 content material
• The blueprint to beating Jon Jones
• Holm prepared to alter her legacy
• The UFC’s 22 Corridor of Fame moments
• Who else deserves to be within the UFC HOF?
• Inside Thiago Santos’ remaining preparation for Jon Jones
• Luke Rockhold’s twin careers
• How the UFC’s mighty have fallen? By the hands of Amanda Nunes
• Element: Daniel Cormier on Amanda Nunes

Julia Avila: Not of all time. He is an excellent fighter. I believe that there is a lot to being a champion, and I believe there’s much more to being a fighter than simply combating. Given my standards, I do assume he is a tremendous fighter and good individual, however there’s a bit extra he is missing in. I believe being a very good position mannequin and, being in his place, I believe there is a sure commonplace we must always maintain ourselves to. That is simply me. There’s nothing flawed with who he’s, however my commonplace is a bit bit increased.

I like [Daniel Cormier]. I actually admire cerebral fighters.I additionally admire individuals who give again to the group. He is a tremendous wrestler, clearly, and I believe typically he has nice stamina and has confirmed time and time once more he is one of many greats.

Is Amanda Nunes the best feminine fighter ever?

Amanda Nunes: Sure. I proved it. I beat probably the most dominant girl on the planet, Cris Cyborg, [at featherweight]. I’ve all these accomplishments in my unique [bantamweight] division. I grew to become champion in my unique division. I’ve two belts. It by no means occurred earlier than [in women’s MMA]. I am gonna defend my two belts, by no means occurred earlier than.

Randa Markos: Ronda [Rousey] undoubtedly is without doubt one of the greatest. She did loads for the game, loads for us girls. She opened doorways for different divisions. I undoubtedly look as much as Ronda.

Michael Chiesa: I am gonna should say sure on that one. You win two titles, particularly the way in which you cap it off, the way in which she did towards Cris Cyborg, that is a fairly clear-cut winner there. Particularly with the quantity of expertise she’s confronted. I imply, beating Miesha Tate within the style she did, beating Ronda Rousey within the style she did, beating Cris Cyborg. She simply completely blew these ladies out of the water. I do assume she’s received a tall order forward of her in Holly Holm. I believe this will probably be her hardest problem up to now. Holly strikes loads. Even when Holly wins, I do not assume she’ll take that title as greatest feminine fighter ever from her, however she undoubtedly has the instruments to take a type of belts from her.

Who’s probably the most underrated fighter within the UFC?

Chiesa: I might say Aljamain Sterling. I believe Aljamain Sterling has an exceptional talent set. I do not assume he will get the credit score he deserves. The man is tremendous robust. … I believe typically he will get a bit ignored, as a result of he had a pair shortcomings, however as of late, I do not know the way you do not have that man pegged as No. 1 contender with that win over Pedro Munhoz. … I believe he is world-class, and I believe he is a future champion.

Aljamain Sterling could possibly be one win away from a UFC bantamweight title shot. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports activities

Avila: Aspen Ladd is a tricky fighter. She can be enjoyable to combat. She’s beginning to choose up steam and [will be] headlining quickly. I might see her in a title match.

Likelihood Rencountre: Likelihood Rencountre. For certain. Man, I have been picked the underdog my final three fights, and I did not win the primary combat, however these final two I used to be the underdog [and won one]. And I believe I am the underdog on this one, too. I am gonna present them Saturday night time. I am underrated.

Who’s the very best trash-talker in MMA?

Nohelin Hernandez: I might give it to Ben Askren. I simply assume it is witty with what he says and it is smart. That is what I like about his trash speak. Colby Covington, he doesn’t make sense.

Gilbert Melendez: Chael [Sonnen] is the very best ever. He is a pioneer. However Nate [Diaz] is simply probably the most genuine, baddest dude on the market. Thoughts-game-type s—.

Ismail Naurdiev: Conor McGregor. As a result of he did it. All people is aware of that. “Who the f— is that man?”

What ought to the UFC do with the flyweight division?

2 Associated

Gadelha: To inform you the reality, the flyweight division has all the time been my favourite division. These guys should be the quickest, they should have the very best agility, the very best method. They’re so fast. Technically, they’re those who should be the sharpest. I need [the UFC] to maintain it. I believe they’re going to preserve it.

Marshman: They need to preserve it. There’s some good fights there. Joseph Benavidez final Saturday had a very good win. That is a very good combat for Henry Cejudo. I do not assume it is boring. I believe a pair uneducated folks watching won’t take pleasure in it as a lot as two large lumps knocking one another out, however I prefer it. It is in all probability extra technical whenever you watch them combat.

Ben Askren: You understand what they should do? They should make up their rattling thoughts. … They solely have 12 folks within the division. So it is like, s— or get off the pot. Do one or do the opposite. The worst factor they will do is what they’re doing now, is leaving them in primarily purgatory. Is that this gonna preserve going? Is it not? I am not in that place, however that must be such a tricky place for the fighters to be in.

Who’s your must-watch fighter within the UFC?

Alejandro Perez: I like loads, loads, loads [of] Khabib Nurmagomedov. All people is aware of he is superb with the takedowns, and I prefer to look how he will get the takedowns.

Edmen Shahbazyan: It is Jon Jones. I grew up watching him, so each time he was combating, my pals and I received collectively for it. His combating type is loopy. He is the best of all time, little question. Simply his composure, his combating type — he adapts to all the pieces, can change each time he desires to. An unbelievable expertise.

Melendez: Takanori Gomi was my man after I was younger. I watched him each time he fought. In fact, “Bones” Jones, I watch him each time. I believe he is the very best fighter of all time. He is simply untouchable. The one man who actually touched him up was Alexander Gustafsson, after which after that [Jones] simply busted him up. It is Jon Jones. I have never seen something prefer it. You see somebody like Conor McGregor, who was very robust, is beatable. I have never seen Jon actually face any critical adversity that he is needed to overcome. When he did have that adversity, he elbowed Gustafsson within the head. He is the very best.

What’s your dream combat?

Marshman: I might say Chuck Liddell as a result of he is been my idol. I might like to combat him. His type. He had nice takedown protection and was nice at getting again to his toes. He all the time had thrilling fights, and I loved it. Considered one of us would fall asleep.

Shahbazyan: I’ve all the time mentioned my dream combat is Yoel Romero. I really like his combating type. He is a beast. … He is simply a tremendous athlete.

Nunes: [My fiancée] Nina [Ansaroff]. It is gonna be our final combat. Then we’re gonna retire. No, simply kidding.

What’s the largest upset in UFC historical past?

Holly Holm shocked the world in 2015 by knocking out beforehand unbeaten Ronda Rousey. Matt Roberts/USA TODAY Sports activities

Chiesa: Most likely TJ Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao. That one I did not see coming. Lots of people would say Ronda and Holly Holm, however I do know this sport very properly and I knew going into that combat that Ronda was gonna have her arms full. That is a tricky combat, a lady that may transfer and is elusive, good hanging. Not gonna lie, I did not assume TJ might win that combat. I do not assume many individuals right here did. When he did it, it was like “holy crap.”

Hernandez: I believe it was Holly Holm knocking out Ronda Rousey. That was one which I do not assume lots of people anticipated, and it occurred.

Melendez: Matt Serra vs. Georges St-Pierre. I misplaced some huge cash on that. I gave somebody Three-1 odds. If I win, $100, however I paid him $300. No one thought he would beat Georges St-Pierre.