A student of the fabled wrestling mats at the Iowa Central Community College, Jon Jones has really come a long way. From being a collegiate standout to the consensus MMA GOAT, ‘Bones’ has spent his life honing his skills with surgical precision. The stage is set for his upcoming legacy bout against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, which is heavily rumored to be the duo’s last rodeo.

With Jones, a wrestler, and Miocic, a striker, set to square off in the octagon this weekend, oddsmakers and analysts are heavily favoring ‘Bones’. With over 16 years of dominance in the cage, it seems that no one has ever been able to outmatch his grappling skills. However, this isn’t entirely true. While Jones has been dominant, he’s not entirely immune to failure. In fact, he has suffered two wrestling losses in his career—and both were to the same person. So, let’s take a closer look at his overall wrestling career, and what it means for Jones’ upcoming fight.

Jon Jones’ wrestling career: What weight did he wrestle in high school?

Growing up with athletic brothers, Jon Jones may not have been destined to become an American football player, but those formative years helped shape him into the formidable MMA fighter he is today. His Greco-Roman wrestling, in particular, became a nightmare for the divisions he competed in. Before making a name in the UFC, Jones was already a force in wrestling, despite his limited frame.

Jon Jones‘ journey began at 189 pounds in high school at Union-Endicott, and he later competed at 197 pounds, leading his team at Iowa Central Community College to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) wrestling championships. Reflecting on his brother’s journey, Jon’s older brother, Arthur Jones, stated that Jon wasn’t naturally gifted, but his hard work made the difference. He said, “In football, he wasn’t the best player. He couldn’t catch a cold. They tried to find a position for him to play.”

Arthur added, “By his senior year, he got the team’s ‘Most Improved Player.’ He played defensive end right next to me, and it was cool to be out there with him. He finally got to start his senior year. He was always willing to prove somebody wrong.” Despite his college wrestling success, Jones dominated the sport much like he is doing in MMA right now. However, his seemingly smooth journey was strained in high school.

Who did Jon Jones lose to in high school wrestling?

Today, in the MMA scene, it’s hard for anyone to stand up to Jon Jones’ wrestling skills, which even Olympic standouts and former UFC heavyweight champions like Daniel Cormier have struggled to match. However, mainstream media has circulated the incorrect narrative that Jon Jones was overwhelmed by a former WWE star.

In fact, Jon Jones recently came forward to clarify the misconception, stating that he actually faced Jack Sullivan, not Matt Riddle, in high school. Unfortunately, he was defeated and placed 3rd. Jones wrote on X, “Some of these guys will say anything for clout. If you actually did your homework, you would realize I never wrestled Matt Riddle. I wrestled Jack Sullivan in the semi-finals (04) and lost.”

Sullivan and Riddle fought for the top spot, but the following year, Jones avenged his loss to Sullivan. Jones later added, “Then went on to beat Jack our senior year to win the New York State high school wrestling championships like a boss. Fast Lane, champion s**t, all the way back in high school.”

Now, all eyes are on the highly anticipated showdown in New York at UFC 309, where Stipe Miocic will rely on his striking to outsmart Jon Jones. The question remains: Can Miocic withstand Jones’ dominant wrestling, or will he fall like those before him? Drop your prediction below: Jones or Miocic?