James Johnson claims he can beat MMA fighter Jon Jones
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 9, 2026, 3:47 PM
Last updated Sep 9, 2026
Longtime NBA veteran and 2026 BIG3 Rookie of the Year James Johnson maintains he could defeat Jon Jones in a mixed martial arts match. Johnson, who claims a 7-0 record in MMA and a 20-0 record in kickboxing, previously noted that he would require a full year of training to sharpen his defensive ground game to compete with the collegiate wrestler. Speaking on Courtside Buzz, the 16-year league veteran expressed a deep affinity for fighting, identifying it as his first sporting passion even after a decade in professional basketball. Known during his NBA career for a martial arts background that saw his family achieve black belt status, Johnson stated his confidence remains firm despite acknowledging Jones as one of the sport's greatest competitors. He previously played for ten different NBA teams, including the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors, before his debut season this year with the DMV Trilogy.
- •James Johnson claims a 7-0 MMA record and 20-0 kickboxing record.
- •Johnson was named the 2026 BIG3 Rookie of the Year.
- •The former NBA player previously cited a need for one year of ground defense training to compete with Jon Jones.
- •Johnson played for ten NBA teams over his 16-year career.
- 3:47 PMYahoo Sports — MMA news: Former NBA, BIG3 star still 'confident' about beating Jon Jones
"Jon Jones is undoubtedly one of the greatest MMA fighters, having dominated the sport for more than a decade. However, a former NBA and BIG3 star thinks he can still confidently beat Jones . Recently on Courtside Buzz, James Johnson said he loves MMA more than the NBA despite so many years in the league. “I have seven fights in MMA, and I loved […] The post MMA news: Former NBA, BIG3 star still 'confident' about beating Jon Jones appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
UFC•Sep 9, 2026, 4:10 PMAnalyst declares UFC 332 headliner 'worst main event in MMA history'
UFC•Sep 9, 2026, 3:00 PMJake Paul sends message to Michael Page after parting ways with UFC
UFC•Sep 9, 2026, 2:41 PM‘I Want To Knock Him Out’ – Har Ling Om Aims To End Nadaka’s Seven-Year Winning Streak At ONE SAMURAI 3
UFC•Sep 9, 2026, 2:30 PMDana White's Contender Series winner not leaning into Jon Jones comparison
UFC•Sep 9, 2026, 2:00 PMDana White reacts to latest Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua drama: ‘You don’t have to be f****** rocket scientists to see what’s going on here’
UFC•Sep 9, 2026, 2:00 PMDana White: Salahdine Parnasse had the third biggest UFC debut, per social media stats – ever!