Islam Makhachev clearly No. 1 pound-for-pound over Jon Jones

Jon Anik doesn’t agree with Dana White, believing that Islam Makhachev must be No. 1 pound-for-pound over Jon Jones.

Light-weight champion Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) is ranked No. 1 pound-for-pound within the UFC rankings, which has brought about White to soften down on multiple event. White argues that Jones is undeniably No. 1, although he at the moment sits at No. 3 behind gentle heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and Makhachev.

Anik agrees with the UFC rankings as he thinks Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) having not competed since claiming the vacant heavyweight title in March 2023 performs a giant half.

“Islam Makhachev’s capacity to search out that takedown and discover that submission in his final title protection towards Dustin Poirier is about nearly as good because it will get,” Anik advised Kevin Iole. “For me, he was the man stepping into, so I don’t know that he loses that perch for me. I’ve at all times put 155 kilos on a pedestal. I do imagine 155 kilos is the deepest division.

“And a part of the rationale why Ilia Topuria is getting Fighter of the Yr consideration, and rightfully so over Alex Pereira, is due to the depth of his division. However for me, it’s Islam Makhachev on daily basis of the week. Jon Jones is within the dialog, however inactivity, I believe, largely takes him out of the discourse.”

If Jones retires, Anik OK with it

Jones is scheduled to defend his heavyweight title towards Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) within the UFC 309 most important occasion Nov. 16 at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York.

Each Jones and his coaches have hinted that he’ll retire after going through Miocic, and Anik thinks he shouldn’t get any flack if that does find yourself taking place.

“If Jon Jones doesn’t battle Tom Aspinall after elevating a sixteenth championship banner in Albuquerque, New Mexico in idea by beating Stipe Miocic, I don’t know that anyone would actually choose him,” Anik mentioned.

“Sure, the competitor that resides inside Jon Jones, there may very well be no increased be aware upon which to exit than to beat both Tom Aspinall or Alex Pereira for Jon Jones, proper? However the dude doesn’t want that prime be aware. He’s the best of all time.”

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