MMA Knockout

Resurfaced Viral Photo Showcases UFC Legends In Their Sparring Element Ahead Of UFC 309

Jon Jones and Anderson Silva showed off their skills when sparring in 2013.

Zain Bando

Feb 8, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Jon Jones (red gloves) fights Dominick Reyes (not pictured) during UFC 247 at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Feb 8, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Jon Jones (red gloves) fights Dominick Reyes (not pictured) during UFC 247 at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images / Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Current UFC heavyweight champion and former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is in his final days of preparation ahead of his title defense against Stipe Miocic next Saturday at UFC 309 in New York City.

Jon Jones Confirms He’s Coming in Lighter for UFC 309 Compared to Last Fight

In an Instagram post from Jones, which later resurfaced on the ESPN MMA 'X' account Sunday, a familiar ex-champion was seen helping Jones get in fight shape 11 years ago.

Enter Anderson Silva, the former UFC middleweight champion who is considered by many as one of the greatest fighters in the sport's history.

Jones and Silva are intertwined in many respects. Despite primarily competing in two different divisions throughout the primes of their careers, both men have a plethora of attributes in common. For one, striking was the main forte. Ahead of the Miocic fight, Jones has won five UFC fights by KO/TKO. Meanwhile, Silva won 11 out of 17 fights by the same method, with each finish arguably more brutal than its previous.

Dana White Doubts Jon Jones, Stipe Miocic Retire without Unifying UFC Titles

Silva's last UFC fight was in October 2020, when he suffered his third-straight loss, falling to Uriah Hall by unanimous decision. Silva then tried his hand at boxing, and he currently has a 2-1 record, not including his exhibition fights.

Jon Jones' Retirement Decisions Are Not A Secret

Jones has contemplated retirement ever since becoming the UFC heavyweight champion last March. He told Kevin Iole last Thursday that if he were to beat Miocic, he would be more interested in fighting Alex Pereira than unifying the heavyweight title against Tom Aspinall.

Jones then tweeted a follow-up to his interview remarks, confirming the Pereira fight would be bigger regarding how his career is remembered when he does officially retire.

"As at this point in my career, every decision is rooted in purpose," Jones wrote last Friday. "My journey isn’t dictated by hype or outside opinions—it’s about crafting a legacy that speaks for itself, one step at a time. I’m here to do what’s right for my career and my legacy, with a vision that’s clear and unshakable. Focused, driven, and in complete control of myself. The story continues, and it’s unfolding exactly as I’ve envisioned.

Regardless of one's opinion, Jones and Silva's impact on MMA can never be understated – both were ahead of their time, as was the competition in which they competed against.

Alex Pereira or Hollywood? Jon Jones Says UFC Superstar is 'Worth Fighting Again'

Read More UFC & MMA News


Stick with MMA Knockout for more FREE coverage of the UFC, MMA, Boxing, WWE, and AEW. Follow MMA Knockout on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Published
Zain Bando
ZAIN BANDO

Zain Bando is a writer for MMA Knockout, part of the Sports Illustrated/Minute Media umbrella. He has covered combat sports since 2019 for notable outlets BJPenn.com and FanSided MMA. He also co-hosts a podcast called "The MMA Outsiders," part of the Empty The Bench Podcast Network, which airs Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. A Chicago suburban native, Bando has been enthralled with MMA since 2006 and has been fortunate to attend some of the most high-profile events in the sport's history, both as a fan and media member, including UFC 264, Bellator 297 and Kayla Harrison's PFL MMA debut. He is excited to take the next step in his combat sports writing journey and looks forward to continuing his following of the fight game for years to come. Bando can be reached via email at zainbando99@gmail.com or by social media @zainbando99

Home/News