Dana White is lastly prepared to provide Islam
Makhachev his flowers.
After Makhachev retained his light-weight title with a first-round
submission of Renato
Carneiro within the UFC 311
most important occasion on Saturday evening, White conceded that the Dagestani is
the highest pound-for-pound expertise within the sport. That’s a big
change in course for White, who for months has
expressed his displeasure that Makhachev was ranked forward of
heavyweight champion Jon Jones in
the promotion’s pound-for-pound ballot.
“He’s already the pound-for-pound No. 1 rating. Yeah, I’ll give it
to him,” White stated on the UFC 311 post-fight press convention. “Is
everyone blissful now that he’s pound-for-pound?
The UFC CEO got here away impressed with Makhachev’s willingness to
adapt when authentic foe Arman
Tsarukyan pulled out of the primary occasion simply sooner or later earlier than
their combat. The reigning light-weight champ didn’t blink when
“Moicano” was proposed as a alternative foe on quick discover.
“Islam was prepared to combat anyone,” White stated. “He’s stayed
energetic and he went out tonight and carried out the best way a man ought to
on a short-notice combat when you’re one of the best on the planet and also you
are the champion.”
Whereas Makhachev is deservedly getting credit score for a successful streak
that now sits at 15, White’s sudden change in stance might be
linked to negotiations with Jones for a possible heavyweight title
unification bout in opposition to Tom
Aspinall. After ending Stipe
Miocic at UFC 309 this previous November, Jones hinted that he
is likely to be satisfied to return in opposition to Aspinall for a hefty payday.
To date, there was no replace on the standing of that bout,
although White beforehand all however assured the combat would occur.
Moreover, Alex
Pereira, the opponent that intrigued Jones essentially the most, has now
been booked to face Magomed
Ankalaev at UFC 313
in March.
No matter how the Jones-Aspinall talks proceed, White appeared
assured when giving his perspective on Makhachev’s standing in
the game.
“100%, there’s little question about it,” White stated. “He’s
the pound-for-pound greatest on the planet proper now and he’s undoubtedly
one of the best to ever do it in that division.”
