Jon Jones named UFC legend as his hardest-hitting opponent: ‘I couldn’t control my legs’

Who hit Jon Jones the hardest?

Jon Jones has never been knocked down during his 17-year run as an MMA fighter.

That doesn’t mean he hasn’t taken punches from some of the deadliest men on Earth.

In December 2024, Jones recalled the hardest punch he’d received while chatting with Adin Ross.

“The hardest punch I ever received was from a guy named ‘Suga’ Rashad Evans,” he said.

“He caught me with an overhand right, the same exact punch he hit Chuck Liddell with, and dropped him. He caught me with that same punch.

“It wasn’t that he hit me so hard, it was the speed of the punch. It was almost like, you can tighten up, or you can just let your arm be loose and let it swing. It’s kind of like an overhand slap, bro. He hit me so fast, and I had no clue what it was.

“He just caught me right at the edge of my chin, and I remember my feet were to a point where I couldn’t control my legs. Then I refocused, and I was able to stand again, but bro that was by far the fastest I’ve ever been hit.

“Thank God I didn’t become unconscious because I probably should have been.”

Jones won a lopsided unanimous decision after Evans hit him harder than anyone else at UFC 145 in April 2012.

Jon Jones wants White House fight

Jon Jones hasn’t fought since knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November 2024.

The 39-year-old was supposed to unify the heavyweight division by fighting Tom Aspinall this year.

Jones agreed to a $30 million deal for the fight before angering Dana White by backing out.

The MMA GOAT relinquished his heavyweight belt and briefly retired from the sport in June.

Jones changed his mind after finding out the UFC will put on a show at the White House next year.

‘Bones’ is hoping to secure a spot on the June 14 card, but White has repeatedly said that won’t be happening.

The UFC CEO says they can’t rely on Jones after he backed out of a fight with Aspinall.

Nothing is official yet, and only time will tell if Jones will be able to work his way back into White’s good books before he starts building the UFC White House card.