UFC heavyweight king Jon Jones, in his journey of more than one and a half decades in the promotion, can rightly be called a veteran. At just 23 years old, ‘Bones’ carved his status in the promotion’s light heavyweight division, where he not only became champion but also a nightmare for the division—a boogeyman who remained undefeated, with his only career blemish coming from a disqualification.

This leaves fans puzzled: does anyone in the stacked world of mixed martial arts deserve to be placed above the great Jon Jones? The answer might lie with UFC color commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan, who, in his latest podcast episode (#2220) alongside his guests Francis Foster and Konstantin Kisin, discussed the heavyweight division in the promotion.

Who is above Jon Jones?

Joe Rogan, while praising the “natural 265-pound knockout machine,” Francis Ngannou, was interrupted by his guest Foster, a writer and comedian, who mentioned the name of Jon Jones. Rogan responded, “Oh yeah, Jon Jones has the highest fight IQ of all time,” comparing Bones’s’ IQ to that of UFC inaugural flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson.

He stated, “Next to Mighty Mouse. Like, man, he finds a way to win, you know? He’s an unbelievable grappler, and that’s why it would be such a good fight. His super-high fight IQ, his use of distance—better than anybody—and his ability to know how to win.”

When it comes to the discussion of fight IQ in the MMA realm, the name of UFC inaugural flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson cannot be overlooked. Following his departure from the UFC, he continued to make waves in Asia’s largest MMA venture, ONE Championship, where his ONE X event is particularly notable. There, he outshined Muay Thai king Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a hybrid MMA and Muay Thai matchup, further establishing his adaptability and showcasing his exceptional fight IQ.

However, despite standing out among everyone, Mighty Mouse always carries a humble attitude towards his opponents and fellow compatriots, which he recently demonstrated while making a bold prediction about the upcoming Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fight, set to take place in New York City this month.

Demetrious Johnson backs Jones against Stipe Miocic

Demetrious Johnson recently weighed in on the biggest ongoing debate in the fight world: who is going to walk through whom in the upcoming UFC heavyweight clash on November 16 at Madison Square Garden, where Jon Jones will put his heavyweight title on the line for the first time against former champion Stipe Miocic. This could be both fighters’ final match, as both veterans are eager to solidify their legacies.

In a recent candid interview, Demetrious Johnson shared his honest opinion and backed Jon Jones over Stipe Miocic. He stated, “He has submitted; he has knocked people out. He has decisioned people. So when he goes and fights Stipe Miocic, I can’t wait to see that fight. I think Stipe is in for a long night, and I think Jon Jones is going to get it done and retire as the champion that he is.”

What are your thoughts on Joe Rogan’s claims? While Demetrious Johnson is undeniably a legendary figure in the MMA world, is it wise for Rogan to compare his fight IQ with that of Jon Jones and to position ‘Bones’ below Mighty Mouse? Drop your opinion below.