Daniel Cormier Compares Jon Jones’ Longevity to Tom Brady’s Football Career

Daniel Cormier, a former UFC double champion and now a revered analyst, continues to speak candidly about the sport and its athletes.

In a recent reflection, Cormier highlighted Jon Jones’ extraordinary longevity in the UFC, comparing it to Tom Brady’s legendary career in the NFL. The comparison underscores not only Jones’ staying power but also the unique pressures of being the face of the sport for over a decade.

It’ll be like Tom Brady playing through 30 years of football, three generations of players at quarterback, because it’s not like being a lineman. It’s not being an undercard guy. It’s a main event guy that has been main eventing for 13 years? That really is an insane thought.

Cormier’s words carry weight, given his own storied career. The retired fighter faced Jones twice, both times losing in their highly publicized light heavyweight clashes. Their rivalry defined an era, showcasing two of the best athletes to ever compete in mixed martial arts. However, Jones’ longevity remains unmatched, as he has continued to headline events and claim victories across generations of fighters.

Cormier himself transitioned into retirement after a trilogy fight with Stipe Miocic, the UFC heavyweight champion. Despite retiring, Cormier’s legacy as a former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion secures his place among the sport’s greats. Yet, even he acknowledges the difficulty of maintaining championship form over such an extended period, particularly in the grueling world of MMA.

Jon Jones, who captured the UFC heavyweight title earlier this year after a three-year layoff, has continually defied expectations. His career spans over 15 years, and he remains a dominant figure, headlining some of the biggest pay-per-view events in UFC history.

Cormier’s Brady comparison is apt—just as Brady redefined what longevity and success could look like in the NFL, Jones has done the same in MMA. To headline fights consistently for 13 years in a sport as punishing as mixed martial arts is indeed, as Cormier put it, “an insane thought.”

Jones’ illustrious career includes victories over a roster of elite fighters, many of whom were in their prime or undefeated before stepping into the octagon with him. Fighters like Daniel Cormier, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, all former champions, fell to Jones’ unparalleled skill. Others, like Ryan Bader and Alexander Gustafsson, were highly touted contenders, with Bader being undefeated before meeting Jones.

Perhaps one of Jones’ most remarkable feats is his ability to defeat multiple generations of talent. From legends like Quinton “Rampage” Jackson to newer stars like Dominick Reyes, Jones has cemented his legacy as a fighter who adapts and evolves to stay at the pinnacle of the sport. His resume is a testament to his dominance and a reminder of why he remains one of the greatest fighters in MMA history.