UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has voiced his dissatisfaction with the current pound-for-pound rankings. Currently ranked third in the men's category, Makhachev sits just below Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski and Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. He is not shy about expressing his displeasure and has publicly criticized the ranking system.
Makhachev Criticizes Rankings and Jon Jones
In a recent interview, Makhachev took a jab at Jones while discussing his upcoming fight. The Dagestani fighter believes that true champions should be ready to face any opponent, regardless of the circumstances. This statement was an indirect reference to Jones' refusal to accept a late replacement fight against Chael Sonnen.
"This is what UFC champions have to do," Makhachev said at 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 offer him Chael Sonnen. If you’re a real champion, you have to fight."
Besides criticizing Jones' decision-making, Makhachev also questioned the validity of the top fighter's ranking and the quality of his last five opponents. He described the rankings as unreliable and declared his decision to stop following them.
Makhachev's Discontentment
Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) is set to headline UFC 294 in a championship rematch against Volkanovski. Initially, he had been scheduled to face Charles Oliveira, but due to a severe cut above Oliveira's right eye, Volkanovski was named as the replacement on short notice.
The injury, which Oliveira shared on social media, forced him to withdraw from the fight, disappointing his fans. Makhachev had previously faced Volkanovski at UFC 284 and despite being ranked No. 2 at the time, he triumphed over the No. 1-ranked fighter. However, a few months later, he found himself ranked third, with Volkanovski and Jones ahead of him.
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 Responds to Criticism
In response to Makhachev's remarks, Jones took to Twitter, saying, "I wish you all the best Habibi," while mentioning Makhachev’s Twitter username directly. He added, "As far as the fight, may the best man win. I was just talking about life in general. Islam made some negative comments recently. No need for me to respond with negativity. I have bigger fish to fry right now."
Jones' classy responses were met with praise from many fans. This is not new territory for Jones, as Makhachev has criticized him about the pound-for-pound rankings on multiple occasions. 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.
Interestingly, 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 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 fight marks his inaugural defense of the heavyweight belt, which he secured after beating Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.