Has UFC heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones lost Dana White’s favor? While we’re not asserting that, Dana White certainly raised eyebrows following UFC 311. Yesterday, at the post-fight press conference, White controversially declared reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev as “the pound-for-pound number No.1”, contradicting his previous endorsement of ‘Bones’ in that position. This came after the Dagestani phenom’s dominant victory over Renato Moicano, who stepped in on short notice.

This sudden shift in White’s stance marks a stark contrast to his prior support of Jon Jones, whom he had championed as the top fighter in the UFC for over a year, despite pushback from analysts and fans alike. White had even gone so far last year as asking Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to “get rid of these clowns,” referring to media houses that determine the UFC P4P rankings. In light of this dramatic change, fans and pundits are now questioning the reasons behind White’s sudden reversal.

While there’s no clear explanation, UFC welterweight Kamaru Usman may have some insight. Usman, equally surprised by the change, discussed it on his ‘Pound for Pound’ podcast with his co-host, former UFC two-division champion Henry Cejudo. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ raised doubts about the decision, suggesting that the situation felt “fishy.” He said, “It does smell kind of fishy, you know, on why that decision will be made. But listen, we have Islam up there as one of, if not the pound-for-pound. He’s definitely high up there, and so it is what it is – whatever reason that is.”

However, both Kamaru Usman and ‘Triple C’ struggled to make sense of Dana White’s shift in focus, with Usman remarking, “We’ll find out in due time.” Jon Jones has long been a favorite of White, who has consistently supported the veteran fighter throughout his career. For over a decade, ‘Bones’ was the face of the 205-lb division and is now ruling the heavyweight division.

Now, at 37 years old, the New Yorker appears to be nearing the end of his career, making him less of a focal point for White. It seems that White is shifting his attention and investment towards fighters like Islam Makhachev for the next few years until he identifies the next phase of the UFC.

When Islam Makhachev exposed Dana White’s narrative on the UFC P4P No. 1 claim

Last year, Dana White became a focal point of criticism, and rightfully so. His decision to place Jon Jones at No. 1 on the UFC’s pound-for-pound list, despite Islam Makhachev’s rightful position at the top, stirred significant controversy. Critics and MMA media pointed out that ‘Bones’ didn’t meet the essential criteria for the top spot—mainly due to his extended absence and infrequent fights. Meanwhile, the Dagestani native’s consistency and dominant performances made him the clear No. 1 contender in many eyes.

Despite this, Dana White seemed hesitant to publicly acknowledge Islam Makhachev as the No.1, seemingly influenced by Jon Jones’ established status as a veteran of the sport. Last summer, Makhachev offered his perspective on the situation during an interview on Shakiel Majouri’s podcast, stating, “Dana thinks the same, but he wants to promote the same guy. He [Jon Jones] is old, he has one or two more fights. But I know what they know.”

Fast forward to the present, and Dana White has now officially crowned Islam Makhachev as the UFC’s pound-for-pound No. 1. This shift has sparked reactions from fighters and analysts alike. What are your thoughts on White’s sudden change of stance? Why do you think the UFC boss ultimately moved the 155-lb kingpin ahead of the man they tout as the greatest MMA fighter of all time? Was there something specific that led to the decision, or did Jon Jones’ actions play a role? Share your opinion below.