UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has voiced his dissatisfaction with his current pound-for-pound ranking. As it stands, the Dagestani fighter occupies the No. 3 position in the men's category, trailing behind featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Makhachev's Criticism of the Rankings
In a recent interview, Makhachev took a swipe at the rankings and indirectly jabbed at Jon "Bones" Jones as he prepares for his upcoming fight. The lightweight champion insisted that true champions should be ready to face any challenger, unlike Jones who had previously declined a late replacement fight against Chael Sonnen.
"This is what UFC champions have to do," Makhachev stated during Wednesday’s UFC 294 media day. "If you’re a real champion, you have to take a fight, no matter how many days' notice, or who it’s going to be. Not like your pound-for-pound champion when they offered him Chael Sonnen. If you’re a real champion, you have to fight."
Makhachev also questioned the decision to rank Jones as the top fighter, casting doubt on the quality of Jones’ last five opponents. He described the rankings as unreliable and announced his decision to stop following them.
The Source of Makhachev's Dissatisfaction
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 - a severe cut above his right eye - "The Great" Oliveira was replaced by Volkanovski on short notice.
Makhachev had previously faced Volkanovski at UFC 284 in February. Despite being ranked No. 2 at the time, Makhachev triumphed over the then No. 1-ranked Volkanovski. However, a few months later, he found himself demoted to No. 3, with Volkanovski and Jones ahead of him, sparking his discontent with the ranking system.
When asked about his issue with the rankings, Makhachev said, "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."
Jones' Response to Makhachev's Remarks
Jon Jones responded to Makhachev’s remarks on Twitter, wishing him all the best. "I wish you all the best Habibi," he tweeted, 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," Jones added. "No need for me to respond with negativity. I have bigger fish to fry right now."
Jones is no stranger to criticism regarding the pound-for-pound rankings. In a previous interview, Makhachev questioned why Jones held the No. 1 ranking when he had only secured one victory in the last three years. Jones himself has openly criticized the current UFC ranking system before, taking a jab at middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya in 2021.
In his next bout, Jones will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 on November 11, 2023. This marks his first defense of the heavyweight belt, which he secured after defeating Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.