And Jones lost to Matt Hamill. What’s your point ?
No Jones is not on Stipe’s level. If he thought he was he’d have been fighting at HW. Instead of down at JV. If you think Jones beats Stipe. My only question is
LHW before 2014 has never been the JV division; however, heavyweight hasn't historically been the weakest Divisions in the history of the UFC,
Yes on paper Stipe is not on Jon Jones level. Stipe lost to Struve and struggled against JDS in a damn near all stand up fight where JDS landed like maybe 1 throw. If either one of those guys that night fought Jon Jones they most defiantly would have been beaten. And while stipe has progressed you have to keep in mind that he's doing well in a post USADA era full of heavyweights that are damn near 40 with fucked up endrocrine systems possibly from PED usage and pride relicks in the late 20 teens, apart from JDS the youngest guy he's beaten is 3 years older than him and stipe is already in history mid 30's not quite over the hill yet but getting there.
Jon Jones has beaten world champion after world champion in their early 30's when he won a super only a rookie" of 3 years within the sport, he's acumulated more skill and knowledge at 30. He's taken down olympic level wrestlers, outstruck karate experts and beaten fighters at their own games, submitted bjj experts and ended win streaks.
If Jon Jones and stipe clash, considering Jon Jones actually becomes a LEGIT 240 because he cuts from 228 like every other light heavyweight, and even some middle weights,(he started cutting from 219 when his career began), he will dominate stipe.
Stipe is the king of an over the hill division of fat slow fighters who lack creativity, stamina and chins, when gen loses to D.C. it will be a testimony to how overstated Stipe actually is on sherdog. Assuming he manages to defeat D.C. which I don't see happening he will lose to Jon Jones.