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Why does Zion Clark not have legs? Disabled MMA fighter BEATS Jon Jones in push-up challenge

The push-up bout came shortly after Jon Jones cemented his legacy as the greatest of all time with a victory against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: Shortly after dropping jaws with his stellar performance that secured the UFC heavyweight title, Jon Jones lost a push-up contest to legless mixed martial artist Zion Clark on Sunday, March 5. Jones cemented his legacy as the greatest MMA fighter of all time with a dominant victory against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in Las Vegas.

Jones had not entered the octagon for over three years since he vacated his light-heavyweight title to add mass and have a crack at the heavyweight division. However, it seemed like just another day at the office for the controversial American fighter as he choked out the Frenchman with a first-round guillotine submission in under three minutes. That said, Jones felt he still had the energy to take on the handicapped Zion Clark in a friendly push-up bout backstage.

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Why does Zion Clark not have legs? 

It's worth noting that Clark was born with Caudal Regression Syndrome (CRS), a serious disorder that impairs the development of the lower (caudal) half of the body. According to MedlinePlus, affected areas can include the "lower back and limbs, the genitourinary tract, and the gastrointestinal tract." The condition causes bones of the lower spine to frequently misshapen or not develop at all, and the corresponding sections of the spinal cord are also irregular or missing. According to Cleveland Clinic, CRS affects an estimated 1 to 2 out of every 100,000 newborns worldwide. It is more common among infants born to parents who have diabetes, in which case it affects an estimated 1 in 350 newborns. Despite his shortcomings, Clark competed in numerous sports and eventually established a career in MMA.

'You're slowing down, bro!'

"I love what you're doing, man! You're killing it. I see you, it's a big occasion," UFC champion Jones told Clark as he greeted him backstage following his victory. "Man god bless you, keep doing what you're doing. Z, let's go, baby! I know you wanna hit that push-up competition. I know you wanna hit it. I got some extra in me too." The duo then started doing push-ups in unison, but Jones couldn't keep up with his legless challenger. "You look like you're slowing down, bro! Let's go! Well, you can't win all of them," Clark quipped. Jones graciously accepted defeat and shook hands with the winner, before heading to the changing rooms to get ready for his post-fight presser.

Clark grabbed headlines in December after winning his first MMA fight against an able-bodied opponent at the Gladiator Challenge in San Diego. The bout reportedly lasted the full three rounds before Clark was crowned the winner by unanimous decision. An excited Clark was then seen backflipping with his hands in celebration. The former college wrestler won the respect of the crowds and drew plaudits from across the MMA universe, including UFC great Conor McGregor.

Having said that, Jones' dominant victory over Gane made him the undisputed heavyweight champion and he's now just the eighth athlete to conquer two separate UFC divisions. The stunning victory also extended Jones' unbeaten streak to 19 in a row, bringing his record to 27-1 including one disqualification (illegal elbows).