ESPN recently ranked the Top 100 professional athletes of the 21st century.
If you don’t know how centuries work, the period of eligibility is from Jan. 1, 2000 through July 1, 2024. Reigning UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones landed at No. 66, along with a link to a separate ESPN article reminding you of his “complicated” legacy in MMA.
I guess that’s one way to put it (here’s another).
Below is an excerpt from the ESPN ranking, courtesy of Andreas Hale:
After becoming the youngest fighter to win a UFC championship in 2011, Jones went dominant on a litany of Hall of Fame caliber fighters for the next four years, with impressive wins over the likes of Daniel Cormier, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Vitor Belfort and Rashad Evans. Not only did he beat them, but he did so by playing to his opponent’s strengths and then running roughshod over them. The resume is undeniable, and the accolades are still piling up.
The assault charges are still piling up, as well.
Georges St. Pierre, the retired UFC two-division titleholder, takes the No. 76 spot.
Arguably no fighter in UFC history bridged the gap better from the sport’s “older days” to its modern form. Particularly from 2006 to 2013, St-Pierre represented everything mixed martial arts was looking for. He was essentially perfect in those years, winning 14 of 15 bouts, including 12 title fights. At one point, he won 33 consecutive rounds. He was solely responsible for an explosion of fan interest in Canada and was one of the promotion’s biggest stars globally. His style was ahead of its time, known for blending a variety of skills seamlessly together. He is also remembered as one of the most outspoken critics of performance-enhancing drugs during his era.”
ESPN correspondent Brett Okamoto was charged with St-Pierre’s writeup.
UFC megastar Conor McGregor did not make the list (but made this one instead).
Boxers Floyd Mayweather Jr. (25), Manny Pacquiao (71), and Bernard Hopkins (78) also made the “Top 100” list for their contributions (and success) in the “sweet science.” Like Jones, Mayweather Jr. has also faced criticism for his legal troubles outside the ring.
Troubles as in “domestic violence.”
Jones, 37, is currently rehabbing a torn pectoral muscle and is expected to make his Octagon return at some point later this year. As for St-Pierre, 43, he retired from competition after capturing the middleweight title from Michael Bisping back in late 2017.
