UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has expressed his dissatisfaction with the current pound-for-pound rankings in the UFC, where he currently occupies the No. 3 position. Ahead of him are featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Makhachev's Criticism
Makhachev didn't hold back in his criticism of the rankings and took a direct shot at Jon "Bones" Jones as he prepared for his upcoming fight. He believes that champions should be ready to face any opponent, a trait he feels Jones lacks due to his refusal to accept 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 the fight, no matter how many days' notice or who it’s going to be. Not like your pound-for-pound champion when they offer him Chael Sonnen. If you’re a real champion, you have to fight."
The Dagestani fighter also questioned the decision to rank Jones as the top fighter and cast doubt on the quality of Jones’ last five opponents. He described the rankings as unreliable and announced his decision to stop following them.
Makhachev's Displeasure with His Ranking
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 nasty cut above his right eye - "The Great" Volkanovski was named as the replacement on short notice.
Last February at UFC 284, Makhachev, then ranked No. 2, triumphed over the No. 1-ranked Volkanovski. However, a few months later, he found himself at No. 3, with Volkanovski and Jones ahead of him. This has led to Makhachev expressing his displeasure 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
In response to Makhachev’s remarks, Jon Jones took to Twitter. "I wish you all the best Habibi," he wrote, directly mentioning Makhachev’s Twitter username.
"As far as the fight, may the best man win. I was just talking about life in general. Islam made some negative comments recently," Jones added. "No need for me to respond with negativity. I have bigger fish to fry right now."
Fans have praised Jones for his classy responses. This isn't new territory for Jones, as Makhachev has criticized him about the pound-for-pound rankings on multiple occasions. In a previous interview, the Russian national questioned why Jones held the No. 1 ranking when he had only secured one victory in the last three years.
It's worth noting that Jones himself has openly criticized the current UFC ranking system before. 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 an inability to defend takedowns.
In his next bout, Jones will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 on November 11, 2023. This will be his inaugural defense of the heavyweight belt, which he secured after defeating Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.