In the world of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), controversy is never far away, especially when it comes to rankings. The latest fighter to voice his dissatisfaction is none other than UFC Lightweight Champion, Islam Makhachev. He currently sits at No. 3 in the men's pound-for-pound category, just below featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Makhachev’s Dissatisfaction with Rankings
During Wednesday’s UFC 294 media day, Makhachev criticized the ranking system, expressing his disapproval over his position. He took a jab at Jon "Bones" Jones, who had previously declined a late replacement fight against Chael Sonnen. "This is what UFC champions have to do," Makhachev said. "If you’re a real champion, you have to take a fight, doesn’t matter how many days, who it’s going to be."
He went on to question the decision to rank Jones as the top fighter, scrutinizing the quality of Jones' last five opponents. Makhachev deemed the rankings unreliable and announced that he would no longer be following them.
The Upcoming Fight: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski
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—a severe cut above Oliveira's right eye—"The Great" Volkanovski was named as the replacement on short notice.
Makhachev had previously faced Volkanovski at UFC 284. At the time, Makhachev was ranked No. 2 and triumphed over the No. 1-ranked Volkanovski. Yet, a few months later, he found himself ranked at No. 3, with Volkanovski and Jones ahead of him—a move that has since sparked his displeasure.
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, Jones took to Twitter, saying, “I wish you all the best Habibi,” while directly mentioning Makhachev’s Twitter username. “As far as the fight, may the best man win. Islam made some negative comments recently,” Jones added. “No need for me to respond with negativity. I have bigger fish to fry right now.”
Many fans praised Jones for his classy responses. This is not new, as Makhachev has criticized him about the pound-for-pound rankings on multiple occasions. In a prior interview, the Russian national 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. Jones mocked Adesanya for his higher ranking despite his inability to defend takedowns, stating, “It’s funny seeing people have the satisfaction of being ranked over me when I’m not even competing. Just take me off that silly list.”
Upcoming for Jones
In his next bout, Jones is set to 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.
As the controversy continues to brew, one thing remains clear: both Makhachev and Jones are ready to defend their honor in the octagon, no matter where they stand in the rankings.