Islam
Makhachev isn’t happy with his standing in the UFC’s
pound-for-pound rankings.
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Makhachev, who currently ranks third in the promotion’s poll, took
at shot at No. 1 Jon Jones, who
regained the top spot when he returned from a three-year hiatus to
beat Ciryl Gane
at UFC 285. Makhachev will face Alexander
Volkanovski on short notice in Saturday’s UFC 294 headliner
after original foe Charles
Oliveira withdrew from the event last week. Makhachev defeated
Volkanovski, the reigning featherweight champion, at UFC 284 in
February.
“This is what UFC champions have to do,” Makhachev said on
Wednesday at a UFC media event “If you’re a real champion, you have
to take fight, doesn’t matter how many days, 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.
“They put him [Jon Jones]
No.1, the No. 1 guy right now, (but) who he beat in his last five
fights? We don’t have some names in the top pound-for-pound
rankings. I just want to say about the rankings and all these
things, this is bulls—t, and I’m not following anymore.”
Makhachev is making reference to UFC 151, where Jones refused to
face Sonnen on short notice when Dan
Henderson pulled out of their scheduled light heavyweight title
fight. As a result, the event was canceled, and Jones drew the
wrath of UFC president Dana White.
Jones responded to
Makhachev’s remarks in diplomatic fashion on social media.
“I wish you all the best Habibi,” Jones wrote while tagging
Makhachev’s account.
“As far as the fight, may the best man win,” he continued. “I was
just talking about in life. Islam made some negative comments
recently. No need for me to respond with negativity. I have bigger
fish to fry right now.”
Jones, who is slated to face Stipe
Miocic at UFC 295 next month, didn’t take the bait when asked
about his decision to turn down a fight with Sonnen at UFC 151.
Jones did eventually face Sonnen, winning via first-round TKO at
UFC 159.
“‘Heavy is the head that wears the crown,’” Jones wrote. “Criticism
comes with the territory.
“I want to encourage the young fighters to beat some of my records
instead of using their lips. Now that’s gangsta.”
Makhachev is also not happy to be ranked behind Volkanovski, whom
he defeated via unanimous decision.
“Because last time I beat (him) already,” Makhachev said regarding
the current UFC rankings. “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 considers himself to be champion who takes on all comers,
but he also believes Volkanovski has nothing to lose by accepting
the rematch.
“I don’t have any pressure,” Makhachev said. “Because I am a
champion. It doesn’t matter who it’s going to be in front of
me.
“But I agree this guy doesn’t have any pressure. He comes [to
fight] on 11 days’ [notice], I already beat him and if I beat him
again, people are going to say he came on short notice, not in good
shape, something like this. For me, I just step to the cage, finish
this guy, that’s it.”