UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has stirred up controversy in the world of mixed martial arts. The Dagestani fighter, currently ranked No. 3 in the men's pound-for-pound category, expressed his discontent with the rankings. He sits just below featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Makhachev's Criticism
In the lead-up to his fight this Saturday, Makhachev took a swipe at Jones, who once declined a late replacement fight against Chael Sonnen. "This is what UFC champions have to do," Makhachev said 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."
He continued his criticism by questioning the decision to rank Jones as the top fighter and scrutinizing the quality of Jones’ last five opponents. Disenchanted with the current state of affairs, Makhachev declared he would stop following the rankings, describing them as unreliable.
The Upcoming Rematch
Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) will headline UFC 294 in a championship rematch against Volkanovski. Originally, Makhachev was scheduled to face Charles Oliveira. However, due to a nasty cut above his right eye, Oliveira had to withdraw, leading to “The Great” being named as the replacement on short notice.
Last February at UFC 284, Makhachev, then ranked No. 2, triumphed over the No. 1-ranked Volkanovski. Despite his victory, Makhachev found himself ranked at No. 3 a few months later, with Volkanovski and Jones ahead of him. This discrepancy led to Makhachev's expressed dissatisfaction with the ranking system.
"Because last time I beat him already," Makhachev explained, referring to his previous victory over Volkanovski. "The last fight was No. 2 vs. No. 1. If you beat No. 1, you should be No. 1. But I don't know who makes these rankings."
Jones' Response
Responding to Makhachev's remarks on Twitter, Jones wished him the best, saying, “I wish you all the best Habibi,” while directly mentioning Makhachev’s Twitter username. He added, “No need for me to respond with negativity. I have bigger fish to fry right now.”
Many fans praised Jones for his classy response. This isn't the first time Makhachev has criticized Jones about the pound-for-pound rankings. In a prior interview, the Russian national 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. Back in 2021, when he fell to No. 4 due to inactivity, he took a jab at middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya for his higher ranking despite his inability to defend takedowns. Jones quipped 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.”
Upcoming Fight
In his next bout, Jones will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 on November 11, 2023. This marks his inaugural defense of the heavyweight belt, which he secured after beating Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.