As a fighter with an incredible frame who can generate tremendous leverage in grappling and striking, with the skill set of a b level fighter.
His footwork is non existant, his kicks have no power, he under-utilizes the jab and cross instead opting for flashier and less effective techniques, his only strategy seems to be "stand in front of opponent, plant feet, and throw a hard shot or 2".
He totally over reacts to everything coming his way and generally has no answer in the way of an effective counter.
With that said, he does have his moments, like the one time he did a lean back and countered.
Otherwise, skillwise he has a long ways to go and is nowhere near someone like Anderson Silva.
If his skillset ever catches up with his physical gifts, he could be unstoppable at 205. Until then, the comparison to Ali needs to end, and while he could possibly beat A. Silva, I will not accept the argument that he is anywhere as skilled as Silva is. What Silva does in the ring is art. What Jones does is work, good work too, often great, but it's not art, and I don't buy into the hype.
There is no way silva could stop Jones from taking him down, and being elbowed into bolivian.
Yet Jon jones would still eat Silva for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
DallasVanWinkle - As a fighter with an incredible frame who can generate tremendous leverage in grappling and striking, with the skill set of a b level fighter.
His footwork is non existant, his kicks have no power, he under-utilizes the jab and cross instead opting for flashier and less effective techniques, his only strategy seems to be "stand in front of opponent, plant feet, and throw a hard shot or 2".
He totally over reacts to everything coming his way and generally has no answer in the way of an effective counter.
With that said, he does have his moments, like the one time he did a lean back and countered.
Otherwise, skillwise he has a long ways to go and is nowhere near someone like Anderson Silva.
If his skillset ever catches up with his physical gifts, he could be unstoppable at 205. Until then, the comparison to Ali needs to end, and while he could possibly beat A. Silva, I will not accept the argument that he is anywhere as skilled as Silva is. What Silva does in the ring is art. What Jones does is work, good work too, often great, but it's not art, and I don't buy into the hype.
It stopped being hype after he beat Shogun. But I agree with you on some points. I think when Jones moves up to heavyweight, it's going to be much similar to the RJJ situation.
Jones probably could beat Silva because of his gigantic, long frame coupled with his takedown ability and the impossibility of controlling someone with Jones frame on top of you, throwing long elbows from guard top.
If Jones had Chael's frame, he could not beat Silva.
I maintain that Silva's skillset is far superior.
As a fight fan and a fighter as well as an intellectual, I value skill over the ability to win.
DallasVanWinkle - Jones probably could beat Silva because of his gigantic, long frame coupled with his takedown ability and the impossibility of controlling someone with Jones frame on top of you, throwing long elbows from guard top.
If Jones had Chael's frame, he could not beat Silva.
I maintain that Silva's skillset is far superior.
As a fight fan and a fighter as well as an intellectual, I value skill over the ability to win.
On an intellectual level, this makes no sense. Anderson is no smaller than Evans and Evans managed to keep the fight standing. If Anderson was as skilled as you are saying, then he should be able to keep the fight standing as well and use his superior striking.
If you really just appreciate the skills, then you should appreciate the fact that not only is Jones a physical freak but he's also well rounded, whereas Silva is only so good at striking because he ignored his ground game for so long. He's improved his BJJ with the Nogs but his wrestling is still not so great. Jones is still 14 years behind him and I don't see how you could argue he's not more well rounded skill wise.
Silva is better at standup, and that would still be a close kickboxing match due to the reach advantage and how he's smart enough to use it effectively. You think Silva would beat him in a BJJ match? I don't see it happening with Jones clinch throws and heavy top game to go with his vicious angles on chokes. And obviously Jones would win the wrestling, so I just don't see an intellectual basis for your argument of "Silva would still be more skilled even if Jones won just because he's bigger".
If that was the case every champ in every division would be the tall lanky guy, when that's only the case for (IMO) Cruz and JBJ, and maybe Silva who obviously uses his size to his advantage when possible as well (but apparently this doesn't make you think of him as less skilled).
Embarrassing, Jones haters hit a new low.
4l
Death Beast:
When I speak of skill, I speak of timing, foot placement, and meta dynamics such as prediction, the ability to bait and counter, etc.
Don't get me wrong. Jones is skilled, but his skills to me seem pretty rudimentary. Especially his lack of any kind of intricate timing and control of range. He simply stands in front of his opponent and executes a technique or 2. He doesn't bait, he doesn't fake, he doesn't move in and out or laterally, he doesn't really counter either.
Jones effectiveness in wrestling and submissions has to do with his frame. Nobody else is going to get that choke on Machida, or drop him with a hook like that.
But look at how Silva dismantled Okami, Forrest, Leben, Belfort, Fryklund... those were examples of pure skill (granted Silva DOES have a good reach and he utilizes it fully). Nothing Jones has done compares to those examples.
He fights effectively, he has some impressive finishes, but he has never finished anyone with the kind of pure skill and grace as Silva has and to be frank I don't know if he ever will.
He has been exposed.... As being better than anyone at 205.
You can pick holes at anyone, Andersons wrestling for example... But all that matters is what you do, and in Johns case that's dominate everyone. 
I get what you're saying, but what I'm saying is that everything you're describing with Silva came from experience. Jones has 10+years to get to that level before you can really make a comparison. For where he's at now, his skill level is incredible. And since this is MMA, you have to take into account Anderson's 'rudimentary' level abilities as well.
You call that domination?
He won the fight, yeah, but he ate an OH right and a high kick that could have KO'd him just as easily.
Hell even Stephan Bonnar took him to decision. Give Shogun and Machida their rematches.
Also Silva would probably beat him at 205 but they don't want to fight eachother. I haven't seen him finish anyone at 205 as impressively as Silva did to Griffin and James Irvin.
Death Beast - I get what you're saying, but what I'm saying is that everything you're describing with Silva came from experience. Jones has 10+years to get to that level before you can really make a comparison. For where he's at now, his skill level is incredible. And since this is MMA, you have to take into account Anderson's 'rudimentary' level abilities as well.
this ^
don't forget that jones has been training mma for what? five years? give him time. he may not have all those things that were just pointed out but guess what? he hasn't needed any of them apparently.
Looked to me like his only deficit tonight was he was nervous and it threw his timing off.
this kid is the future of the sport.
There is more to skill than striking.
Troll troll troll your boat!! 
he would smash Anderson
Jon Jones GOAT
STFU with this thread.
LOL at "give Shogun and Machida their rematches."
Both of them were completely broken by Jones. Shogun was beaten in the first half of the first round by a knee that he never recovered from, and Machida was put cold to sleep in highlight reel fashion.
You have no reason to think either of them would do anything different in their rematch.
He dominated Evans last night, and the only reason you think he didn't get dominated is because Jones didn't finish him.
And stfu about Bonnar going to decision with him. That was a 3 round fight first of all, and he was young in his career at the time. You're crazy if you think Bonnar would have lasted another round with him, because Bonnar was finished.
DallasVanWinkle -
If his skillset ever catches up with his physical gifts, he could be unstoppable at 205.
He already is unstoppable at 205
DallasVanWinkle - Death Beast:Agreed and I have maintained this stance since I first saw him. I don't see these huge improvements in his game that everyone goes on about, I believe that's the kool-aid talking, I just see someone who has an extraordinary reach advantage. It's like saying Shaq was the best basketball player thay ever lived. (not the best comparison as Shaq is more skilled at his sport then Jones is is at his)
When I speak of skill, I speak of timing, foot placement, and meta dynamics such as prediction, the ability to bait and counter, etc.
Don't get me wrong. Jones is skilled, but his skills to me seem pretty rudimentary. Especially his lack of any kind of intricate timing and control of range. He simply stands in front of his opponent and executes a technique or 2. He doesn't bait, he doesn't fake, he doesn't move in and out or laterally, he doesn't really counter either.
Jones effectiveness in wrestling and submissions has to do with his frame. Nobody else is going to get that choke on Machida, or drop him with a hook like that.
.........