Picture this. It’s a busy night out. The bar is crowded and people are shoving and elbowing others to generate just a few inches of space. Amongst this commotion you see out of the corner of your eye the two biggest guys in the room start to size each other up. When you look closer you notice these aren’t just normal guys, it’s king of the octagon and UFC champion Jon bones Jones. The man he’s staring at, the greatest boxer ever, Iron Mike Tyson. They’re ready to throw down and you need to pick a winner, go. 

This was the discussion that plagued my Saturday night and caused my friend group to erupt into a screaming match so intense you would have thought we were cornering the fighters ourselves. If you’re a fan of any sport, chances are you have had a hypothetical debate like this before. Who would win in a 1v1 Jordan or LeBron? Who can throw the better ball Mahomes or Brady? 

Chances are if you match up the two G.O.A.T.S of a sport against each other, you’re going to get one helluva debate. A debate that will have no clear winner and an equal amount of people on both sides willing to fight tooth and nail to prove their right. I could debate Jones vs Tyson with 100 different people and with a different perspective, and no one would be any closer to truly being able to say who would win that fight. 

Despite this, I still think it’s fun to try. So with a closer, more in depth view at both fighters, their history and backgrounds and the conditions of the fight, I think we can accurately make a judgment on who would be triumphant in the greatest street fight ever. 

So to help get some further insight I turned to some individuals with fighting experience. After asking a few students at martial arts schools such as Robert Hugus Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Unlimited Martial Arts club. 

“As a Jiu-Jitsu guy it’s hard for me not to say Jones. I’ll almost always argue that an MMA guy would beat a boxer just because of the gap in knowledge. I will say if any boxer could do it though, it would be Tyson, ” said Michael Fiero, a member of Robert Hugus. 

Let’s start with Jones. Standing at 6’4” and weighing in at 234 pounds, Jon ‘bones’ Jones is one scary guy. Jones made his UFC debut at 20 years old in 2008, and by 2011 he was the promotions light heavyweight champion, the youngest fighter to ever be crowned with that achievement. Since 2011 Jones has remained champ, even after switching divisions in 2023 to become a heavyweight. With a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a background in college wrestling and a proficiency in almost every martial art, Jones is the definition of a complete fighter.  With a professional record 28 wins and 1 loss (that loss coming from disqualification) many believe Jones is not only the greatest fighter the UFC has ever seen, but the greatest fighter the world has ever seen. 

“Obviously Jones, not even close. Jon is the greatest fighter of all time, emphasis on fighter, Tyson is just a boxer, he has no ground game or grappling,” said Nemo Rafael, a member of U.M.A in Brooklyn, New York.

Now in the red corner stands Tyson. Tyson’s career show’s deep parallels with Jones’s in a variety of ways. Like Jon, Mike was the youngest fighter in his sport to reach gold, becoming the world heavyweight champion at 20 years old. With two junior olympic gold medals, and some of the greatest boxing matches ever under his belt, it’s almost impossible to talk about boxing without mentioning Tyson a few sentences later. Tyson was feared for his immense power and ability to finish fights quickly. With a record of 50-7, and 44 of those wins coming from knockout, it’s clear why Tyson had a hard time even finding opponents.

Being amazing fighters isn’t the only thing these two have in common. One of the reasons this hypothetical fight is so fun is because of who Jones and Tyson are as people. Both men carry quite the reputation in and out the cage. 

Jones is well known for being one of the dirtiest fighters in the octagon, with many of his opponents claiming he uses questionable tactics to win. From eye pokes to oblique kicks, Jones himself has stated “I will come round after round with the malicious techniques I know” In an interview with ESPN. Even out of the cage Jones is known for multiple run-ins with the law and scandals involving performance enhancing drugs. 

Tyson is quite renowned for being a bad man himself. Many believe Mike’s best boxing year’s were taken from him when he was arrested and put in jail for three years in 1992. However, the prison yards all but sharpened Iron Mike, turning him into an even meaner, badder version of himself. So mean that he bit a part of Evander holyfield’s ear off in a match in 1997. 

“Mike Tyson’s speed, strength and athletic ability, combined with the no gloves and street fight environment, I think if he touches him once it’s over. You can’t mess with ‘Prison Mike,’” a student at Robert Hugus Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and former high school wrestler said.

So we have a good idea on who these guys are. Two people you don’t want to mess with. Now let’s set the stage and break down the fight. Since this is a street fight there’s no rules. Everything is allowed and no one is there to break it up. Both guys are aware they are about to square off so the element of the surprise is off the table. 

Tyson has one clear way to victory, the knockout shot. It’s undeniable that Mike holds the advantage in power. If the right shot connects, Tyson can end the fight before Jones can even think. Tyson would have to blitz in aggressively and not allow Jones to create distance, once up close he can swing away. 

Jones may not have that simple of a task, but he’s got a lot more ways to win. Due to his background in other martial arts and proficiency in other fighting styles, Jones is dangerous from everywhere. If he can survive that first flurry of punches from Tyson, then Mike is in trouble. Jon could take him to the ground and finish him with a quick submission, or perhaps keep him at range and strike with kicks and knees. 

Due to his variety of tools and fight knowledge, I gotta give the advantage to Jones.

Now the wild card of this fight is the fact that both of these guys have no issues making it dirty. Tyson could shift into “prison mike” and easily go for his signature bite, but who’s to say Jones doesn’t counter with an eye poke. In terms of dirty moves, the advantage remains Jones. 

There you have it. Technique beats power in this battle of heavyweight champs. Those who swear by Mike’s power might not like it, but Jones’s complete arsenal of skills and styles mixed with his towering size and drake makes him the  impossible matchup for any fighter. No discredit to Iron Mike, and the puncher’s chance is always there, but the chances of him landing the perfect shot are slim in comparison to Jones’s tested all around style. In conclusion, winner-Jones

By: Evan Rando