Jon Jones, widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, ends his career with an unusual mark on his record—a single defeat that remains highly disputed. His controversial UFC loss and record debate center on a disqualification that many believe should not count as a legitimate defeat.
Jones retired recently after a successful career that included two light heavyweight titles and a heavyweight championship won in his 2023 return. Despite that success, his decision to bypass a title unification bout against interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall drew sharp criticism. The UFC community and fans have voiced strong opinions, especially after Dana White announced Jones’ retirement.
Details of the Controversial Disqualification Against Matt Hamill
The only blemish on Jones’ record came early in his career during the UFC TUF 10 finale in 2009. Co-headlining the event, Jones was leading decisively against Matt Hamill when referee Steve Mazzagatti stopped the fight. The reason: Jones struck Hamill with illegal 12-6 elbows while Hamill was grounded, a move that led to Jones’ disqualification despite his dominant performance.
Mazzagatti halted the bout uncertain whether Hamill could continue, resulting in Jones being handed the loss. This decision sparked immediate controversy due to the nature of the stoppage and the overall dominance Jones displayed throughout the fight.
Dana White’s Campaign to Remove the Controversial Loss
UFC president Dana White has publicly challenged the legitimacy of Jones’ disqualification. Over the years, White criticized referee Mazzagatti’s call and expressed his desire to have the loss removed from Jones’ official fight record.
White explained that during that period, the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s authority was limited, allowing questionable referee decisions to have lasting impacts. Speaking on The Jim Rome Show, he said:
“I mean, realistically — if you look at all the people that he’s fought, he’s never lost a fight.”
He further added,
“You have to understand for the people that don’t know, this was during a time when the Nevada State Athletic Commission was very weak.”
White maintained that instead of disqualifying Jones, the appropriate call would have been to end the match with Jones winning by stoppage, emphasizing:
“And there was a referee in there that stopped the fight and called Jones the loser in that fight. A fight he was dominating and should have been finished. Instead of disqualifying Jones, they should have stopped the fight. Jones really should be 27-0.”
Despite White’s persistent defense of Jones’ record, tension lingers as Jones’ avoidance of a match with Aspinall and past anti-doping issues have complicated his final legacy. It remains unclear whether White will continue advocating to erase this one contested loss now that Jones has officially stepped away from competition.