Jon Jones receives CSAC backing to have only loss overturned

UFC star Jon Jones is one step closer to having an undefeated record, with Andy Foster, director of the California State Athletic Commission, saying this week that he supports the heavyweight champion having his only professional loss overturned.

Jones’ only loss came in 2009, when he was dominating Matt Hamill in The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale but got disqualified due to illegal elbows.

“I’d be actually supportive of getting rid of that,” Foster said on Tuesday.

Following a rule change on November 1 that removes ‘12 to 6 elbows’ from the list of illegal moves, Jones petitioned for the loss to be scrubbed from his 27-1-0 record.

“Undefeated then, undefeated now,” Jones said when the change was announced.

“Dana White, we gotta get that loss out of the history books.”

Foster explained that while he believes the loss should be removed from Jones’ record, it would be challenging to do so.

“The rule is what it was then,” he said.

“It’s different now. It would be hard to go back.

“It’s not my decision.

“But I think it’s hard to go back with the rule being different than it is now.”

He also outlined that disqualification should only be invoked when all other options are exhausted, so as to avoid situations like Jones’ in the future.

“Disqualification should be the last resort a referee goes to,” Foster said.

“That should be after you’ve used all the tools in your toolbox.

“We train these guys, and we teach them — you’ve got a lot of things you can go to, a lot of things you can look at.

“Let’s do that before we disqualify people.”

Jones will fight at UFC 309 on November 16 for the first time since defeating Ciryl Gane in March 2023 and claiming the heavyweight crown.

He takes on heavyweight legend Stipe Miocic, with UFC bookmakers installing the champ as a -625 favourite to defend his title.

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