UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with his current pound-for-pound ranking. Despite sitting at No. 3 in the men's category, he believes he deserves a higher position. The Dagestani fighter finds himself ranked below featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Makhachev's Critique of Rankings
Makhachev didn't hold back his criticism of the UFC rankings during the media day for UFC 294. He took a jab at Jon Jones, who had previously declined a late replacement fight against Chael Sonnen. In Makhachev's view, a true champion should be ready to face any opponent, regardless of the circumstances.
"This is what UFC champions have to do," Makhachev said. "If you're a real champion, you have to take the fight, no matter how many days' notice or 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."
Makhachev also questioned the decision to rank Jones as the top fighter, even casting doubt on the quality of Jones’ last five opponents. He described the rankings as unreliable and announced his decision to stop following them.
The Upcoming Rematch
Currently boasting a record of 24-1 in MMA and 13-1 in UFC, Makhachev will headline UFC 294 in a championship rematch against Volkanovski. Originally, Makhachev was scheduled to face Charles Oliveira, but an injury led to "The Great" stepping in as a short-notice replacement.
Oliveira suffered a significant cut above his right eye, which he described as both "nasty" and "disgusting." He shared images of the injury on social media and apologized to his fans for his withdrawal.
Makhachev had previously faced Volkanovski at UFC 284, where he emerged victorious despite being ranked No. 2 at the time against the No. 1-ranked Volkanovski. However, a few months later, Makhachev found himself demoted to No. 3, with Volkanovski and Jones ahead of him, sparking his discontent with the ranking system.
Reactions from Jon Jones
Responding to Makhachev's remarks, Jones took to Twitter with a measured response: "I wish you all the best Habibi," directly mentioning 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."
Jones is no stranger to criticism of the UFC ranking system. In 2021, when he fell to No. 4 due to inactivity, he expressed his dissatisfaction by taking a jab at middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya. Jones criticized Adesanya for his higher ranking despite his inability to defend takedowns.
In his upcoming bout, Jones will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 on November 11, 2023. This will be his first defense of the heavyweight belt, which he secured after defeating Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.