No one has defended their UFC 205 title more than once since Liddell

Who has Phil Davis beaten besides bums? Sure he is good, but he could be a hype job.
Just being a brilliant grappler/wrestler doesn't mean he can deal with a striker or the clinch.

 

You can't judge a fighter until he's challenged for the title, you can't judge a champion until he's defended it. The pressure involved is far greater and it can do funny things to even the best. Look at what happened to GSP with the first Hughes fight and the first Serra fight. The pressure will only be intensified with the emotional turmoil that seems to surround Jones vs. Evans.

That said the advantage Jones has is he will be making his first defense against somebody with a fighting style he's already excelled against. Jones has dominated every wrestler he's been up against, particularly those giving up significant height and reach. Jackson was surprised by Griffin's legkicks, Griffin by Evans speed and wrestling, Evans by Machida's handspeed and footwork, Machida by Shogun's Muay Thai. Jones will not have to make the same leap into the unknown against Evans...on previous form he should win comfortably.

 

What about Cung Le vs Jon Jones?

 

I don't think anybody in Strikeforce would give Jones many problems, partly becuase without the extreme weight cutting Strikeforce fighters tend to be smaller than their UFC counterparts. If King Mo could get past Mousasi's striking and hold him down for five rounds then Jones certainly can, while Henderson wouldn't able to cope with the speed of Jones.

 

I really want Cung Le vs. Wanderlei Silva

 

Haven't seen much of cung le lately. I think jones would just take him down and beat him on the ground. If he decides to stand with le then he can get KTFO.

 

Fo’ show Anderson Silva would beat him... he’s skills on toast.

 

Henderson will always have a puncher's chance and the fight will be a 5 rounder. Henderson will have a lot of chance of getting to jones and having a shot at a knockout.

 

Because a 185lb Cung Le is a better striker than Shogun. He was backed up and hit by Shamrock a number of times.

 

key word is more than once meaning at least 2 times genius.

 

Machida will be ultra-negative against Jones... but that could be what's needed to penetrate Jones's defences. Machida will be going backwards, but he can be very swift and incisive off the back foot when he sees an opening. Jones does leave himself open when he goes for his unconventional attacks, it may take someone as cerebral and cautious as Machida to get inside on him and land something big.

As I said, I think the difference in size/strength will still be too much for Machida to overcome, but I think it'd be an intriguing match-up.

 

But the gap in reach and speed is surely too big for him to overcome.

 

That would be interesting, but Machida's running game has been exposed a bit, Jones could cut him off with his pole vault arms.

Davis has a great wrestling base but jones has shown his wrestling is top notch and could likely keep it standing.

Rampage? at least has power to test Jones chin, but Jones is slick and doesn't get hit often and Rampage really hasn't changed his game much?

Hendo? I doubt it too old and slow, and got smothered by Shields, I'm sure the bigger Jones would make an everlast bag out of Hendo.

Rashad, I think Rashad knows he's already beat and will have another injury to save himself the beating. I think Jones would keep him at a distance and have his way, Rashad would dance his way to dancing with the stars but that's about it.

At this point I don't see anybody beating him considering he's still young and getting better every fight. He's not just winning he's finishing all his fights of late.

 

It is a stacked division no doubt. But Jones just dismantled the best guy. From now on he will be fighting the second, third, fourth guys in the division as it was when he fought for the title. Plus all the other belt holders had lost before becoming champ, Jones has never even been in a bad position. So the fact the LHW belt changed hands so often in the past doesn't really mean a thing.

All the fighters you list, with exception of Davis, are a similar height/build to Rua. Jones would be favourite going into every single one of those fights and I would not bet against him. JJ has the longest reach in the UFC and knows how to maximise that advantage, huge obstacle to overcome.