UFC CEO Dana White insists that Jon Jones is the UFC’s pound-for-pound greatest fighter. Not per week seemingly goes by with out White making his case for UFC 309’s headliner at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York. That is even supposing UFC’s official rankings anoint Islam Makhachev as No. 1.
The pound-for-pound dialog is sophisticated with out standards. You will see as a lot when you unfurl UFC fighters’ opinions on the matter. Some level to Jones’ longevity and total physique of labor. Others argue that Makhachev’s exercise and up to date high quality of opposition take precedent. One may even argue that Jones or Makhachev is extra expert, so that they’d take high prize if weight was not a difficulty.
White’s disputes about pound-for-pound standing ought to pertain to the UFC’s official rankings. The rankings — regardless of its personal flawed, unfastened standards — ought to essentially replicate who’s the most effective in a division proper now. That is simpler to tell apart in a particular weight class the place fighters compete in opposition to one another. It is a tougher prospect when requested to measure resumés with little to no overlap.
CBS Sports activities conferred with a lot of former UFC champions and energetic contenders. Check out how they, together with fighters sourced elsewhere, weighed in on if Jones or Makhachev is pound-for-pound No. 1 proper now.
Georges St-Pierre (former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion): “I assume proper now [Makhachev] is the most effective pound-for-pound proper now. Due to his previous few performances. Simply wonderful. An incredible showcase of coronary heart, too, as a result of he had a nasty lower on his brow and [Dustin] Poirier gave him a troublesome time. Pushed the tempo to the sting, and I believe that combat goes to make Makhachev even higher. These are the fights that make you develop.” (Tristar Fitness center)
Arman Tsarukyan (No. 1 ranked light-weight): “The No. 1 pound-for-pound is Jon Jones as a result of he is a legend. He is nonetheless combating. We’ll see. Subsequent month he is combating and if he beats Stipe Miocic, he is acquired to be No. 1 pound-for-pound. Then when he retires, of course it is Islam.” (MMA Junkie)
Sean O’Malley (former UFC bantamweight champion): “Biggest fighter proper now? Most likely Islam. I imply, Jon Jones is up there. I assume Jon’s fought as soon as within the final 4, 5 years. Jon Jones is up there [as] the best of all time, however proper now who’s the best? Like, who has been energetic final 4 years or no matter, I believe it is Islam, however Jon Jones is all the time going to be within the dialog.” (Helen Yee)
Chris Weidman (former UFC middleweight champion): “I will take Jon Jones only for every thing he is finished in his profession. It is laborious to query him being No. 1 pound-for-pound. I do know he hasn’t been energetic, however the reality he got here again at heavyweight and acquired a end over a man like Ciryl Gane so quick, I would put him at one.” (CBS Sports activities)
Caio Borralho (No. 6 ranked middleweight): “Proper now, it is possibly Islam. However the most effective MMA athlete of all-time is Jon Jones, no doubt about it. He beat the most effective guys, he acquired the hardest guys within the division and he gained. He is one of the vital aggressive guys I’ve ever seen. I believe Jon Jones is the GOAT, little question about it.” (CBS Sports activities)
Frankie Edgar (former UFC light-weight champion): “I assume for total bodywork, it’s important to go Jon Jones due to his longevity. However the pound-for-pound man proper now could be Islam Makhachev.” (CBS Sports activities)
Beneil Dariush (No. 8 ranked light-weight): “Over time, it’s important to take a look at Jon Jones for positive. At the moment, Makhachev is working his butt off. At the moment, I might say Makhachev.” (CBS Sports activities)
Aljamain Sterling (former UFC bantamweight champion): “If we’re speaking pound-for-pound, everybody’s standards is completely different. However I believe pound-for-pound, the best way I perceive it’s, if weight wasn’t a issue, skill-for-skill, who can be the most effective man? I agree, I believe it is Jon Jones.” (Sterling’s podcast)
Raquel Pennington (former UFC girls’s bantamweight champion): ” I am the kind of one who thinks it is based mostly in your profession and every thing, however I am additionally about personalities. I am going with Islam.” (CBS Sports activities)
Jan Blachowicz (former UFC mild heavyweight champion): “Jon Jones. I simply don’t love his tales with medicine, with the pictograms. However he is simply finished way more.” (CBS Sports activities)
