Islam Makhachev has found support for his P4P (pound for pound) no.1 ranking from UFC legend, Georges St-Pierre! After his impressive win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 and making the third defense of the lightweight title, UFC CEO Dana White caused a stir at the post-fight press conference when he stated, “For anyone to call Islam the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world when Jon Jones is still f*cking fighting is nuts…”

This led to a wave of discussion amongst the MMA community with many prominent voices in the sport questioning the UFC boss’s statement. While Jon Jones was appreciative of White’s remarks, according to ‘Rush’, he is firmly on the side of Islam Makhachev when it comes to the P4P ranking debate between the Dagestani champion and ‘Bones’.

Georges St-Pierre goes against Dana White as he lauds Islam Makhachev’s P4P status

In a conversation with coach Firas Zahabi on the ‘Tristar Gym’ YouTube channel, former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion, Georges St-Pierre weighed in on the discussion concerning Islam Makhachev’s P4P no.1 spot in the UFC.

When Zahabi inquired, “Tell me what you think of Islam Makhachev, can he fill the shoes of a Georges St. Pierre one day?”,  St-Pierre responded by stating, “He’s amazing, I think he is the best P4P right now because of his last few performances.”

He continued by further revealing, “Just amazing, an amazing showcase of heart too, because he had a bad cut on his forehead and Poirier gave him a tough time. Pushed the pace to the edge and that’s what’s gonna make Makhachev even better because these are the fights that make you grow.”

St-Pierre also highlighted Islam Makhachev’s past few performances as evidence of his P4P status, as with the 5th round submission finish of Poirier, Makhachev has now finished 7 out of his last 8 opponents. This streak began in 2021 and since then, Jon Jones has only fought once, securing the undisputed heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane with a first-round finish at UFC 285 last year.

The discussion highlights the dynamic nature of MMA, where fighters continuously push the boundaries of excellence and with Makhachev indicating that he is now aiming at securing a second title in the future, it adds more fuel to the debate regarding his P4P status. However, according to the current welterweight champion, the Dagestani fighter still has some work to do before he decides to take a shot at the 170 lbs belt!

‘Rocky’ addresses Makhachev’s ‘champ-champ’ aspirations

During the UFC 302 post-fight press conference, Islam Makhachev had stated, “If you want a great legacy, you have to get second belt. It’s my opinion…”, echoing the sentiments he had shared in his in-cage interview after his win over Dustin Poirier.

But according to the current welterweight king, Leon Edwards, while he’d be happy to oblige Makhachev’s demands for a ‘champ vs champ’ fight, there’s still unfinished business for the Dagestani champion in his own weight class.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Edwards stated, “He’s just (defended) against his first lightweight, actual lightweight, you know. I feel like he’s got a few more lightweights to go through first before he can even think about moving up. Like I said, if we both go on this reign then why not later on in the future?”

‘Rocky’ is currently scheduled to defend his welterweight crown at UFC 304 against Belal Muhammad, and depending upon the outcome of that fight, Makhachev’s plans to move up a division may need to adjust accordingly. Nevertheless, with approval from a legend like Georges St-Pierre and his incredible performances, Islam Makhachev is poised to cement his legacy as not just the P4P no.1 fighter but possibly adding his name to the ‘GOAT’ list as well! 

What are your thoughts on Makhachev’s P4P ranking and his chances at becoming a ‘champ-champ’ in the UFC? Share them with us in the comments below!