Does Failing a PED Test Disqualify Jon Jones From GOAT Status?

Описание: Coach Javier Mendez recently stated that Jon Jones should not be included in the GOAT discussion because of a failed PED test.

That argument sounds reasonable — but it doesn’t settle the issue.

The real question isn’t whether Jon Jones was the cleanest athlete of all time. It’s whether he was the greatest fighter of all time — and those are not the same conversation.

Standards change. Rules evolve. Substances banned today may be permitted tomorrow, just as many things once allowed are now prohibited. Evaluating greatness across eras quickly becomes complicated.

If given a choice — one fighter’s complete skill set, passed down to the next generation — most would choose Jon Jones. Not because of paperwork or testing history, but because of skill, adaptability, and dominance inside the cage.

This discussion also raises broader questions:

How do failed tests factor into legacy?

Who decides when an asterisk applies?

How should fighters from different eras be compared?

Where do legends like Fedor Emelianenko and Khabib Nurmagomedov fit into the conversation?

The conclusion is clear:
Jon Jones may not be the cleanest fighter of all time — but failing a PED test does not disqualify him from being the greatest fighter of all time.

CHAPTER BREAKDOWNS

0:00 — Javier Mendes’ Claim
Why failing a PED test is being used to exclude Jon Jones from the GOAT discussion.

0:39 — Clean vs Greatest
Why “cleanest fighter” and “greatest fighter” are two completely different conversations.

1:05 — Rules Change Over Time
How banned substances, testing standards, and enforcement shift across eras.

1:38 — The Skill Test Thought Experiment
If you could pass one fighter’s skills to the next generation, who would you choose?

2:27 — Does a Failed Test Require an Asterisk?
Who decides legacy disqualification — fans, commissions, or history?

3:00 — Where Does Fedor Fit?
Why fighters without UFC runs are often discounted — fairly or unfairly.

3:34 — Comparing Eras Is Inherently Flawed
Why dominance in one era doesn’t translate cleanly to another.

4:13 — Fighters Who Used PEDs but Never Failed
Why the discussion becomes a slippery slope when enforcement is inconsistent.

4:56 — Cleanest Fighter vs Greatest Fighter
Why Jon Jones clearly fails one category but remains eligible for the other.

5:18 — GOAT vs “Greatest of His Time”
Why this framing may be the most honest way to evaluate legacy.

5:59 — Final Verdict
Why failing a PED test does not disqualify Jon Jones from GOAT consideration.

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