In the high-octane world of UFC, where reputations are made and shattered inside the Octagon, rankings matter. Yet, the current pound-for-pound ranking has left the UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev less than pleased. As it stands, the Dagestani fighter is ranked No. 3 in the men's category, trailing behind featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Makhachev's Critique
Makhachev didn't mince words when criticizing the rankings at the recent UFC 294 media day. He took a particular aim at Jon Jones, who had previously declined a late replacement fight against Chael Sonnen. "If you're a real champion, you have to take a fight, doesn't matter how many days, who it’s going to be," said Makhachev, clearly disapproving of Jones' decision.
The lightweight champion also questioned the rationale behind ranking Jones as the top fighter and cast doubts on the quality of his last five opponents. Disillusioned by the current state of affairs, Makhachev declared that he would no longer follow the rankings, describing them as unreliable.
Discontent with the Rankings
Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) is set to headline UFC 294 in a championship rematch against Volkanovski. Originally, he was scheduled to face Charles Oliveira. However, due to a severe cut above Oliveira's right eye, Volkanovski was named as the replacement on short notice.
This isn't the first time Makhachev will face Volkanovski. They previously clashed at UFC 284, where Makhachev, then ranked No. 2, triumphed over the No. 1-ranked Volkanovski. However, a few months later, Makhachev found himself ranked No. 3, with Volkanovski and Jones ahead of him, sparking his discontent with the rankings.
"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, expressing his frustration with the ranking system.
Jones' Response
Jon Jones responded to Makhachev's remarks on Twitter with a composed message, "I wish you all the best Habibi." He further added, "No need for me to respond with negativity. I have bigger fish to fry right now."
Many fans praised Jones for his classy response. This isn't the first time that Makhachev has criticized Jones about the pound-for-pound rankings. 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 been open about his criticism of the UFC ranking system. In 2021, when he fell to No. 4 due to inactivity, he took a jab at middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya for being unable to defend takedowns, despite being ranked higher than him.
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 these fighters prepare for their upcoming matches, the debate over rankings continues to simmer. While it's clear that rankings matter in the UFC, the controversy surrounding them suggests that the system might need some tweaking.