Jon
Jones isn’t changing his stance on Islam
Makhachev. 

Jones is currently filming for a Russian MMA reality show opposite
Nate
Diaz in Thailand. During the show’s filming, “Bones” referred
to current
UFC pound-for-pound king Islam
Makhachev as someone who is still “young to the sport.” This
didn’t go over well with Makhachev’s fans, leading to a
clarification from Jones.

Jones claims he wasn’t trying to undermine Makhachev but was only
trying to translate Diaz, whose accent is tough to understand for
non-Americans. However, the heavyweight champ didn’t entirely
change his stance on Makhachev. Jones believes his own legacy, if
anyone’s, warrants him the status to consider Makhachev an
up-and-comer in the sport.  

“I feel like the comment I made, made a lot of people upset, a lot
of Islam fans upset,” Jones said. “But really what I was trying to
do, was I was trying to translate for Nate to the Russians. Nate
speaks in a very laid back way, he speaks with a lot of slang. And
if you’re not American, it may be hard to understand what he was
saying. So I was really just trying to translate for Diaz. But at
the same time, me saying that Islam is an up-and-coming fighter,
when it’s coming from me, I can say that. Not many people can say
that, I can.” 

Jones began his career at light heavyweight, where he set the UFC
record for most title defenses. He then returned after a three-year
hiatus in 2023 and made quick work of Ciryl Gane
to win the vacant heavyweight championship. However, he has since
defended his title only once against Stipe
Miocic and stalled the division. Jones has been slow to accept
a fight against interim champ Tom
Aspinall, who has defended his interim strap in the meantime.
Jones claims he has made his plans clear to the UFC and doesn’t
know why they aren’t making it public. 

Meanwhile, Makhachev is undefeated in 15 outings, which includes
four lightweight title defences. The Dagestani star has now moved
up to welterweight to challenge Jack
Della Maddalena for the title at a future event.  

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

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