As we gear up for another thrilling weekend of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) action, one controversy continues to dominate the headlines. UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has publicly voiced his disapproval of the current pound-for-pound rankings. The Dagestani fighter currently holds the No. 3 spot in the men's category, trailing behind Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski and Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.
Makhachev's Critique
Makhachev has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the rankings, even taking a swipe at Jon "Bones" Jones as he prepares for his upcoming fight this Saturday. He insisted that true champions should be ready to face any opponent, a quality he believes Jones lacks, referencing Jones' refusal to take on a late replacement fight against Chael Sonnen.
"This is what UFC champions have to do," Makhachev commented at Wednesday's UFC 294 media day. "If you're a real champion, you have to take the fight, regardless of how many days' notice or who it's going to be. Not like your pound-for-pound champion when they give him Chael Sonnen. If you're a real champion, you have to fight."
Furthermore, Makhachev questioned the decision to rank Jones as the top fighter, criticizing the quality of Jones' last five opponents. He described the rankings as unreliable and announced his decision to stop following them.
Discontent over Rankings
Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) is set to headline UFC 294 in a championship rematch against Volkanovski. Initially, Makhachev was scheduled to face Charles Oliveira. However, due to an injury, "The Great" was named as the replacement on short notice.
The injury, a severe cut above Oliveira's right eye, forced him to withdraw from the fight. Oliveira shared images of his wound on social media and apologized to his fans for his withdrawal.
Makhachev previously faced Volkanovski at UFC 284. Despite being ranked No. 2 at the time, Makhachev triumphed over the No. 1-ranked Volkanovski. However, he was later ranked No. 3, with Volkanovski and Jones ahead of him, sparking his dissatisfaction.
"Because last time I beat him already. The last fight, it was No. 2 vs. No. 1. If you beat No. 1, you have to be No. 1, but I don't know who makes the rankings," Makhachev explained when asked about his issue with the rankings.
Jones' Response
In response to Makhachev's remarks, Jones took to Twitter, wishing him all the best while directly mentioning Makhachev’s Twitter username. "As far as the fight, may the best man win. I was just talking about in life. Islam made some negative comments recently. No need for me to respond with negativity. I have bigger fish to fry right now," Jones tweeted.
Many fans praised Jones for his classy responses. This is not new for Jones, as Makhachev has criticized him about the pound-for-pound rankings on multiple occasions. Previously, Makhachev questioned why Jones held the No. 1 ranking when he had only secured one victory in the last three years.
Jones himself has been critical of the current UFC ranking system. In 2021, when he dropped to No. 4 due to inactivity, he criticized Middleweight Titleholder Israel Adesanya for his higher ranking despite his inability to defend takedowns.
"When you're ranked over Jon Jones on a pound-for-pound list but know you can’t defend a takedown," he said on Twitter. "It’s funny seeing people have the satisfaction of being ranked over me when I’m not even competing. Just take me off that silly list."
In his next bout, Jones will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 on November 11, 2023. This fight marks his inaugural defense of the heavyweight belt, which he secured after defeating Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.