UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has voiced his dissatisfaction with his current pound-for-pound ranking. The Dagestani fighter sits at No. 3 in the men’s category, falling behind featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Makhachev's Critique of Rankings
Makhachev criticized the rankings ahead of his fight this Saturday, taking a particular jab at Jon "Bones" Jones. Makhachev maintained that true champions should be ready to face anyone, unlike Jones, who had 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 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."
Makhachev also questioned the decision to rank Jones as the top fighter and scrutinized 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 Own Ranking
Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) is set to headline UFC 294 in a championship rematch against Volkanovski. Originally, 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, led him to withdraw from the match. Oliveira shared images of the cut on social media and apologized to his fans for the unexpected withdrawal.
Makhachev had previously faced Volkanovski at UFC 284. Despite being ranked No. 2 at the time, Makhachev 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 situation has fueled Makhachev's displeasure with the ranking system.
"Because last time I beat him already," Makhachev said when asked about his issue with the rankings. "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."
Jon Jones' Response
Jones responded to Makhachev’s remarks on Twitter, saying, “I wish you all the best Habibi,” while directly mentioning Makachev’s Twitter username. He also expressed his good wishes for the upcoming fight and refrained from responding with negativity to Makhachev's comments.
“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 prior 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. In 2021, when he fell to No. 4 due to inactivity, he took a jab at middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya.
In his next bout, Jones will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 on November 11, 2023. It marks his inaugural defense of the heavyweight belt, secured after beating Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.