UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev is making headlines, voicing his dissatisfaction with the current pound-for-pound rankings in the UFC. The Dagestani fighter, who currently holds the No. 3 spot in the men's category, finds himself ranked below featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Makhachev's Critique of the Rankings
In a recent media interaction at Wednesday’s UFC 294 media day, Makhachev took a jab at Jon Jones, criticizing not just his top position in the rankings, but also his decision to decline a late replacement fight against Chael Sonnen.
"This is what UFC champions have to do," Makhachev asserted. "If you’re a real champion, you have to take a fight, no matter how many days' notice, no matter 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."
Further, Makhachev questioned the decision to rank Jones as the top fighter, scrutinizing the quality of Jones’ last five opponents. He described the rankings as unreliable and declared his decision to stop following them.
The Upcoming Championship Rematch
Despite his grievances, Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) is set to headline UFC 294 in a championship rematch against Volkanovski. Originally, Makhachev had been scheduled to face Charles Oliveira. However, due to an injury—a nasty cut above his right eye—“The Great” was named as the replacement on short notice.
Last February, Makhachev 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—a decision that has since irked Makhachev.
"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."
Jones' Response to Makhachev's Remarks
Jon Jones responded to Makhachev’s remarks on Twitter, maintaining a positive tone. "I wish you all the best Habibi," he wrote, using Makhachev's Twitter handle. "As far as the fight, may the best man win. Islam made some negative comments recently. No need for me to respond with negativity. I have bigger fish to fry right now."
Jones, who has faced criticism from Makhachev about the pound-for-pound rankings on multiple occasions, is no stranger to questioning the UFC ranking system himself. In 2021, when he fell to No. 4 due to inactivity, he criticized middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya for his higher ranking despite his 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 marks his inaugural defense of the heavyweight belt, which he secured after beating Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.
While the debate over the UFC's pound-for-pound rankings continues, one thing is certain: the upcoming fights promise to deliver high-octane action and perhaps even more discussion around the rankings.