Islam Makhachev is No. 1 pound-for-pound, not Jon Jones

There have been a number of storylines that remained constant all through 2024 with one of many greatest being the talk of who’s the No. 1 pound-for-pound finest fighter in MMA as we speak.

The largest instigator of that dialogue was none apart from UFC CEO Dana White, who insisted Jon Jones was the one alternative for the talk and didn’t entertain the potential for different UFC champions, together with Islam Makhachev – who many imagine is the pound-for-pound finest fighter on the planet as we speak.

Javier Mendez, Makhachev’s coach, thinks there shouldn’t be a lot of a debate, even when in actuality it’s a dialogue that can carry over for almost all of 2025.

“That is what I all the time say: What number of fights does Jon Jones have within the final 4 years? Inform me. What number of?” Mendez advised Hablemos MMA in Spanish. “When you mentioned six or seven, OK. However what number of does he have? Two in 4 years.

“No, you should struggle greater than that (for pound-for-pound finest). If Islam had been to do the identical, I’d put Jon Jones at No. 1 – however he hasn’t fought (as a lot). If he had been energetic, then it’s a distinct dialog – however he’s barely fought. That why, that motive alone, I put Islam at No. 1.”

For Mendez, it’s additionally not solely the exercise stage. Sure, Jones has solely fought twice since 2021, whereas Makhachev has fought eight occasions. It’s additionally the extent of competitors.

“Islam’s fights have all the time been in opposition to No. 1,” Mendez mentioned. “Alexander Volkanovski was one of the best featherweight on the planet and pound-for-pound, and he fought him, and everybody he’s fought has been very powerful. The kinds of all these guys had been superb.

“Jon Jones fought Miocic, who was (42), and hadn’t fought in like 4 years, so he wasn’t the identical. Jon Jones is supreme. He’s a superb expertise and has by no means misplaced in his complete life. It’s powerful to critique him, as a result of he’s fought everybody, however he simply hasn’t fought a lot within the final 4 years.”

For Mendez, there’s no debate. He thinks that folks misunderstand the purpose of the dialogue, which is why there’s a debate triggered. He respects Jones and sees him as the best fighter of all time, which is a distinct label than the pound-for-pound finest.

“The pound-for-pound dialog is now,” Mendez mentioned. “I’m not going round saying that Islam is the best of all time. I’m simply saying he’s the pound-for-pound finest proper now. That’s all. I’m not saying anything.”

Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) returns to the octagon on Jan. 18 in the primary occasion of UFC 311, which works down in Los Angeles, Calif. Makhachev defends his light-weight title in a rematch in opposition to Arman Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC).

The 2 fought again in April 2019. It was Tsarukyan’s UFC debut, which he took on brief discover. The struggle ended up going all quarter-hour, with Tsarukyan developing brief in a unanimous resolution, however placing on an admirable effort.

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 311.