In the world of mixed martial arts, rankings matter. They are a measure of a fighter's skill, prowess, and standing among peers. But for UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev, these rankings have become a point of contention.
Makhachev's Stance on Rankings
Makhachev currently sits at No. 3 in the men’s pound-for-pound category, just below featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and heavyweight champion Jon Jones. The Dagestani fighter has openly expressed his disapproval of this ranking. He believes that as a champion, one should be ready to face any opponent, regardless of timing or circumstances. This was a thinly veiled jab at Jones, who had previously declined 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 the 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."
Furthermore, Makhachev questioned the decision to rank Jones as the top fighter and critiqued 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) will headline UFC 294 in a championship rematch against Volkanovski. Initially, Makhachev had been scheduled to face Charles Oliveira. However, due to an injury - a nasty 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. Despite being ranked No. 2 at the time, Makhachev triumphed over the No. 1-ranked Volkanovski. Yet, a few months later, he found himself ranked No. 3, with Volkanovski and Jones ahead of him, a decision that left him displeased.
"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' Response
In response to Makhachev's remarks, Jones took to Twitter, saying, "I wish you all the best Habibi," while directly mentioning Makachev’s Twitter username. He added, "As far as the fight, may the best man win. I was just talking about in life. Islam made some negative comments recently. No need for me to respond with negativity. I have bigger fish to fry right now."
Many fans expressed their praise for Jones’ classy responses. This is not new for Jones, as he has been criticized by Makhachev 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.
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 criticized Adesanya for his higher ranking despite his inability to defend takedowns.
"When you're ranked over Jon Jones on a pound-for-pound list but know you can’t defend a takedown," he said on Twitter. "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."
Looking Ahead
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. As for Makhachev, his upcoming rematch with Volkanovski will be another opportunity to prove his worth and potentially shake up the rankings once again.