Has Jon Jones Ever Lost? The Hamill Fight Explained
Has Jon Jones ever lost? Officially, yes, once. But he has never been beaten, knocked out or submitted inside the Octagon.
His only loss came by disqualification. Here is exactly what happened.
Has Jon Jones Ever Lost in MMA?
Jon Jones retired with a professional record of 28-1 and one no contest. The single defeat was a disqualification loss to Matt Hamill on December 5, 2009, at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale.
So the short answer to who did Jon Jones lose to is Matt Hamill, and the way he lost is what makes the answer so debated.
What Happened in the Hamill Fight?
Jones was 9-0 and a rising star. In round one he was dominating Hamill, a strong wrestler.
Late in the round he landed several downward elbows, known as 12-to-6 elbows. Those strikes were illegal under the rules at the time. Hamill could not continue, and referee Steve Mazzagatti disqualified Jones.
Many fans felt the referee should have warned Jones or deducted a point instead. The result still stands in the record books as a loss.
Why the Loss Is Often Called a Technicality
There are three reasons fans treat it differently from a normal defeat:
- Dominance: Jones was clearly winning when it ended.
- Rules: the 12-to-6 elbow has since been removed from the list of illegal strikes in the unified rules.
- Aftermath: Jones went on to beat nearly every top light heavyweight of his era.
Other fighters disagree. Demetrious Johnson has argued publicly that a loss is a loss because Jones broke the rules.
Jon Jones’ Other Controversial Moments
Jones has no other official losses, but he has had close calls:
- No contest: his 2017 win over Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 was overturned after a failed drug test and recorded as a no contest.
- Tight decisions: he won narrow unanimous decisions over Alexander Gustafsson and Dominick Reyes, and many fans scored those fights against him.
Those results count as wins, but they are why some argue his record is not as perfect as it looks.
Jon Jones’ Career at a Glance
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| Record | 28-1 (1 NC) |
| Only loss | DQ vs. Matt Hamill, 2009 |
| Youngest UFC champion | Age 23, beat Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in 2011 |
| Light heavyweight title defenses | 11 |
| Final fight | Stipe Miocic, November 2024 |
| Retirement | June 2025 |
Is Jon Jones Retired?
Yes. Dana White announced in June 2025 that Jones had called the UFC and retired. Tom Aspinall was promoted to undisputed heavyweight champion, and the long-awaited Jones vs. Aspinall fight never happened.
Some fans still hope for a return, but he has not fought since his final bout against Stipe Miocic.
Where Does Jones Rank All Time?
Even with the Hamill loss, many analysts still place him first. We compare him with Khabib, Silva and St-Pierre in our guide to the greatest MMA fighter of all time.
For a look at active stars, see our #1 UFC fighter right now breakdown. You can also read StakeUFC’s fighter profiles and the latest at MMA Fighting.
Jon Jones’ Record Explained in Plain Terms
Fight records can be confusing, so here is what each term means for Jones:
- Win: the result stands. Jones has 28 official wins.
- Disqualification loss: a fighter is ruled out for breaking the rules. This is the Hamill result.
- No contest: the result is thrown out, usually after a rule violation or a failed drug test. This is the Cormier result.
So has Jon Jones ever lost on the scorecards, by knockout or by submission? No. The one official loss came from a rules decision, which is why fans keep debating it years later.
The numbers also show how rare his run was. Eleven light heavyweight title defenses place him among the most durable champions in UFC history.
FAQs
Has Jon Jones ever lost a fight?
Once, by disqualification against Matt Hamill in 2009.
Has Jon Jones ever been knocked out?
No. He has never been knocked out or submitted in a pro fight.
Who did Jon Jones lose to?
Matt Hamill, at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale.
What is Jon Jones’ record?
28-1 with one no contest.
Records are accurate as of October 15, 2026.