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Randy Couture: ‘Extraneous stuff’ ends Jon Jones GOAT debate

Randy Couture

(John Sciulli/Getty Images)

Randy Couture
(John Sciulli/Getty Images)

Randy Couture: ‘Extraneous stuff’ ends Jon Jones GOAT debate

UFC legend Randy Couture recently spoke against the narrative that Jon Jones is the greatest MMA fighter of all time. In a Q&A with The Score, Couture said “extraneous stuff” prevents Jones from being the GOAT.

“I think certainly he’s in that conversation,” Couture said. “I think some of the other extraneous stuff, in my opinion, hampers him from being the top guy or at the top of that list. I think it’s about more than just what you do in the cage. It’s about everything. But there’s no denying the ability and the talent that Jon Jones possesses.”

Quote via The Score

Couture did not state who his GOAT was — that could have really made this take interesting.

Couture is more than qualified to talk about MMA and his opinion holds a lot of weight. Couture was a pioneer of the early days of the sport and is one of the best fighters of all time. In fact, he was the first non-simultaneous double champion in UFC history as he won the UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight titles. With that being said, he is wrong on this one.

I understand the argument that Jones cannot be the MMA GOAT because of all the issues he has outside of the cage. Jones has a lengthy arrest record and has been popped for performance-enhancing drugs. Neither of those things are good. Still, he is the greatest fighter of all time.

In the case of the steroids, Jones was popped twice for PEDs by USADA. The first was for clomiphene and letrozole which Jones stated came from a contaminated sexual performance enhancer. At the end of the day, only Jones and those close to him know the truth of that. Meanwhile, the second came from a small trace of turinabol; however, the amount was so small that he would not be punished under USADA’s current rules.

Now, I am not attempting to completely justify Jones’ PED history. I am not advocating for PED use. But, it would be ignorant to wipe PED users from the MMA history books. After all, more fighters take PEDs than you think. We only crucify the ones that get caught.

In 2023, it is possible to work around PED tests. Simply said, there are doctors that are one step ahead of the tests. In fairness, USADA has helped make it much harder for athletes to cheat. The thing is USADA began testing UFC fighters in 2015. Can you imagine what guys were doing prior to that? Not to mention, UFC fighters could use TRT until 2014. In the case of Jones, he fought notable TRT user Vitor Belfort in 2012.

Over a large portion of the UFC’s 30-year history PEDs were fairly easy to use. It would be crazy to completely ruin reputations because of test failures. Ask baseball fans how that has gone.

Now, as far as the arrests go, there is no excuse for Jones’ behavior. The thing is, we are talking about who the best fighter of all time is. In no world do you need to be a great person to be a great fighter. In fact, it is probably easier to fight if you are a bad person. I am sure that is a reality a lot of people would like to avoid, but we are discussing fighters, not philanthropists.

Listen, I like Couture and I do not take a ton of joy in openly going against a legend of the sport. However, I am on record saying Jones is the GOAT. It would be hypocritical for me to sit here and acts otherwise.

At the end of the day, if you compare resumes Jones is the GOAT. If you ask who the best or most talented fighter to step into the octagon is, the answer is Jones. That has to make him the GOAT. I understand the hesitancy due to his out-of-competition issues, but those hold little weight over his talent or resume.

Maybe GOAT talks are pointless after all.

***

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