Those of us who were too young for prime Tyson should appreciate what Jones is doing.

I think this is something that is often forgotten, however I would add that even beyond the skill pool being shallower in MMA, MMA is still discovering what is even possible!

I say this taking nothing away from Jones... Jones' presence on the scene of MMA is amazing, but at the same time, MMA is quite young as a rule set used to approach fighting. Guys are still boiling down what is fluff, marginally useful, is devastatingly effective, and attempting to push the boundaries of that based on their physical skill. Jones seems to bring a fluid simplicity.

What does that mean? That means that Jones could be the shocking whirlwind that Mike Tyson was in a heavily refined sport. Or, he could be another rapid leap in the evolution of MMA in the same vein that BJJ, Shoot Fighting, and the Miletich system were. In all of those cases, they signaled the dawn of a new breed of even more complete fighter, but they were all adjusted to and nullified.

Time will tell.

 

+1.I believe when mma becomes truly refined we will see the art portion in mma show its face and how beautiful it will be :hat

 

Yep. We might have just seen it.

The fluidity of transitions in JJ's game was insane. You could see Shogun "switching" styles and by time he was "ready"? Jones was attacking him with something else. Finishing strikes with his back turned comfortable he would be OK. Who the hell does that?!?! :yikes

That JJ attempt at the leg lock and back fist was insane. You could see Shogun go, "OK BJJ, he is going to try to... BAP! He is punching!"

 

Never seen this thread before, but you can't compare Haggis mate.

The buzz around the great Iron God was immense, like nothing I've seen before or since in the fight world. He was everywhere, on TV in the newspapers, multiple books & sponsorship. The whole world knew about him and was fascinated and in awe, the world just couldn't get enough.

Don't see that with your boy....er.....what's his name again?

 

Jones is clinically efficient and somewhat unorthodox(and may well be the greatest Light Heavyweight in the history of MMA), but the Tyson comparison just doesn't work at all for me.

As for your mentioning that Jones may be the GOAT, well why then compare to Tyson, who nobody believes is the GOAT?

Tyson stirred up primal instincts in people, the interest that Jones stirs up is more of a dull intellectual interest in how he uses his size to such great effect.

 

Two completely different phenoms for me. Tyson was far more ferocious, exciting, and dynamic. He knocked out guys bigger than him. Bones fights guys who appear smaller. He doesn't knock people out. He breaks them down. Jones is more disciplined and has better skill sets but lacks that larger than life quality. Everyone loved Tyson when he was on top. More and more people love to hate Jones. But that isn't necessarily bad.

 

Bull**** I'm afraid.

 

Tyson did face good fighters, it's a myth that he only fought bums, he just made them look ordinary.

See Michael Spinks fight.

In regards to the comparison between Jones and Tyson, they're similar in the way they are running through opponents with ease.

But as for hype? not even close. Tyson was a household name across most the world, Jones is nowhere near that.

 

He doesn't have the fear factor/mystique that Tyson had, as someone said earlier, people had lost to Tyson before they even laced a glove.

I undertstand the point your trying to make, Jones is also destroying competition with ease but i don't think it's anything like what Tyson was doing.

For one he lacks the personality, for two his sport isn't big enough to be a global superstar, and for three, well, he just isn't Tyson.

 

You are better off comparing Jon Jones to Roy Jones, than to Tyson.