UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has publicly expressed his disapproval of the current pound-for-pound rankings in the men's category. Despite holding a championship title, Makhachev finds himself at No. 3, trailing behind featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Makhachev's Critique of Rankings
In a recent press event ahead of UFC 294, Makhachev criticized the ranking system and took a pointed jab at Jon "Bones" Jones. The Dagestani fighter argued that true champions should be ready to face any opponent, regardless of the circumstances, unlike Jones who had previously declined a late replacement fight against Chael Sonnen.
"This is what UFC champions have to do," Makhachev stated 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."
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.
Upcoming Championship Rematch
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 a severe cut above Oliveira's right eye, Volkanovski was named as the replacement on short notice.
The injury, described as both "nasty" and "disgusting," forced Oliveira to withdraw from the fight. He shared images of the cut on social media and apologized to his fans for the unfortunate turn of events.
Interestingly, Makhachev had previously faced Volkanovski at UFC 284. At that time, despite being ranked No. 2, 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 ranking decision that Makhachev clearly disagrees with.
"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," Makhachev said when asked about his issue with the rankings.
Jones Responds to Criticism
In response to Makhachev's remarks, Jon Jones took to Twitter, expressing well wishes for Makhachev. "I wish you all the best Habibi," Jones tweeted, using Makhachev's Twitter username.
"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."
Fans praised Jones' classy responses. This isn't the first time Makhachev has criticized Jones about the pound-for-pound rankings. In a previous interview, the Russian fighter 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 in the past. 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 upcoming bout, Jones will be defending 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 defeating Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.