Former UFC light heavyweight champion and pound-for-pound great Jon Jones returns to the UFC octagon for the first time in 16 months as part of tonight’s headlining act of UFC 197 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Jones (21-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) will fight Ovince Saint Preux (18-7 MMA, 7-2 UFC) for the interim 205-pound title in what will be his first bout since being stripped of the championship and suspended from competition for outside-the-cage actions.

Having turned professional just a little more than eight years ago, Jones already has accomplished more than most will in a lifetime of competition. And at just 28 years old, it’s hardly farfetched to say “Bones” has yet to enter his physical and mental prime, especially with his personal affairs in order for seemingly the first time.

The New York native has openly discussed his desire to break all standing records in the light-heavyweight division, and, more importantly, go down as the greatest MMA fighter of all time. He’s well on his way to doing just that, but Saint Preux is still an obstacle who stands in his way.

With another significant contest in Jones’ career just around the corner, there’s no better time to take a closer look at everything he’s achieved to date and what records are in store if his success continues beyond Saturday’s UFC 197 pay-per-view event.

General statistics

Jones currently is ranked No. 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com MMA light-heavyweight rankings and No. 1 in the pound-for-pound poll, as well.

He will compete in his 17th UFC light-heavyweight bout, the fourth most appearances in divisional history behind Tito Ortiz (19), Chuck Liddell (19) and Rashad Evans (19).

His current 12-fight UFC winning streak in light-heavyweight competition is the longest active streak in the division and longest in the history of the weight class. It’s also the longest UFC winning streak among active fighters.

His 12-fight winning streak in UFC competition is tied with Georges St-Pierre for the second longest in company history behind Anderson Silva (16).

His 15 UFC light-heavyweight victories are the most in modern UFC history.

His nine stoppage victories in UFC light-heavyweight competition are tied with Liddell for most in modern divisional history.

His five submission victories in UFC light-heavyweight competition are the most in divisional history.

He’s defeated five fighters who once held an undisputed UFC championship belt, the second most of any active fighter in the organization behind Lyoto Machida (six).

His seven fight-night bonuses for UFC light-heavyweight bouts are tied with Mauricio Rua for the most in divisional history.

His reach of 84.5 inches is longest in the light-heavyweight division and tied with heavyweight Stefan Struve for longest among active UFC fighters.

Championship statistics

At 23 years and eight months old, Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history when he defeated Mauricio Rua for the light-heavyweight title at UFC 128 in March 2011.

At 24 years, two months and five days old, he became the youngest fighter in UFC history to defend a championship belt when he defeated Quinton Jackson at UFC 135.

His title reign of 1,502 days is the longest in UFC light-heavyweight history. It was also third longest in UFC history behind Silva (2,457) and St-Pierre (2,064).

His nine victories in UFC championship fights are tied with Matt Hughes and Randy Couture for third most in company history behind St-Pierre (12) and Silva (11).

His eight consecutive light-heavyweight title defenses are the most in divisional history.

His eight consecutive UFC title defenses are tied with St-Pierre for second most company history behind Silva (10).

His four UFC title defenses in a 364-day span between Sept. 24, 2011, and Sept. 22, 2012, are the most by any champion in modern UFC history.

His five stoppage victories in UFC title fights are tied for third most in company history behind Silva (nine) and Hughes (nine).

In-fight statistics

He’s never been knocked down or submitted in MMA competition.

His 1,162 total strikes landed in UFC light-heavyweight competition are the second most in divisional history behind Ortiz (1,241).

His 916 significant strikes landed in UFC competition are the most in divisional history.

His 138 significant strikes landed against Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 were the second most ever in a UFC light-heavyweight title fight. Daniel Cormier holds the record with 140 significant strikes vs. Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 192.

His strike differential rate of +2.29 in UFC light-heavyweight competition is second highest among active fighters in the division behind Corey Anderson (+2.68).

His 33 takedowns landed are tied with Ortiz for third most in UFC light-heavyweight history behind Evans (50) and Ryan Bader (41).

He’s only been taken down twice in his 22-fight MMA career. He is 35 of 37 in takedowns defended (94.6 percent) in his UFC tenure, only getting dragged to the ground once by Gustafsson at UFC 165 and once by Cormier at UFC 182.

His takedown defense rate of 94.6 percent is the third highest in UFC history behind former bantamweight champion Renan Barao (100 percent) and Tyron Woodley (95 percent).

He’s one of three fighters in UFC history to earned two fourth-round finishes.. He accomplished the feat with submissions of Vitor Belfort at UFC 152 and Quinton Jackson at UFC 135.

His 10 submission attempts in UFC light-heavyweight competition are the third most in divisional history behind Renato Sobral (15) and Stephan Bonnar (13).

He’s one of only two fighters in UFC history to win two fights via a standing submission. Patrick Smith also accomplished the feat.

His total fight time of 3:35:12 in UFC light-heavyweight competition is the third most in divisional history behind Evans (4:02:43) and Ortiz (3:46:49).

For more on UFC 197, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.