Jon Jones named the four MMA fighters who should be on the Mount Rushmore of mixed martial arts - including himself.

During an interview with The Schmo in 2019, Jones also named Fedor Emelianenko, Demetrious Johnson, and Jones' former colleague Anderson Silva.

However, there was no room for either Conor McGregor nor indeed McGregor's longtime rival Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The Mount Rushmore of mixed martial arts is one of the most hotly-debated topics by MMA fans and fighters.

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It's inspired by the iconic American National Memorial sculpture in South Dakota which features the carved heads of former US presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

UFC News - Jon Jones reveals his Mount Rushmore of MMA legends

Jon Jones is the former UFC light heavyweight champion

Jon Jones is regarded as the GOAT of UFC

Jones, 35, held the UFC light heavyweight championship on two separate occasions from 2011 to 2015 and 2018 to 2020. He's also a former interim UFC light heavyweight champion - and has never lost a UFC fight during his 14-year career.

The American has been around for a long time and named his old friend Silva - the former UFC middleweight champion - as his first pick for the Mount Rushmore of mixed martial arts.

Leaving out 'The Notorious', he said: "The GOAT to me would be Anderson Silva but I am honoured that a lot of people consider me in the conversation.

"Alright, myself, Anderson Silva, Fedor Emelianenko and Demetrious Johnson.

"That's a good list."

READ MORE: Jake Paul vs Anderson Silva: UFC legend reveals his 'only problem' with Dana White

UFC News - Joe Rogan sings the praises of Jon Jones

Jones has not fought since a unanimous decision win over Dominick Reyes, 32, in February 2020.

He is currently bulking up ahead of a highly-anticipated move to heavyweight.

And UFC commentator Joe Rogan is expecting big things from him when he makes his long-awaited return to the octagon.

Speaking on his podcast, he said: “[He has] the highest fight IQ maybe ever, right up there with ‘Mighty Mouse’ [Demetrious Johnson].

“He’s a wild man. I had a conversation with Jon when all that sh*t was going down and I said, ‘Listen dude.’ I called him up, I’m like, ‘You are a wild motherf*cker and that’s the type of guy that becomes the greatest of all time.’

“You don’t get to be the greatest of all time just being a normal person. I go that’s just who you are. I know you made mistakes, I know you’ve done stupid sh*t, but you’re still the greatest motherf*cker of all time and you could show the world. Bounce back from this and show the world.

“It’s taken a long time [for Jones to make heavyweight debut], but now he’s 253 pounds, solid as a rock. Giant, huge back… yeah, his brothers are all super athletes.”