UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has recently raised eyebrows with his bold remarks. He has called into question Jon Jones’ position as the pound-for-pound (P4P) king. In an exclusive interview with the YouTube channel ‘YukaHero’, Makhachev expressed his skepticism regarding the P4P rankings and shed light on other hot topics in the UFC.

Makhachev’s comments came in the wake of his recent victory over Alexander Volkanovski. Volkanovski held the coveted #1 P4P ranking at the time of their bout. Although the fight ended in Makhachev’s favor, ‘Volk’ remained the P4P king. However, Jones’ win over Ciryl Gane secured the heavyweight the esteemed number one pound-for-pound place.

Islam Makhachev slams UFC’s tactics and Jon Jones for #1 P4P spot

When specifically asked about Jon Jones’ top spot in the P4P rankings, Makhachev didn’t hold back. He remarked, “He didn’t beat the champion, he beat the guy who recently lost.” The reference here is to Jones’ submission win over Ciryl Gane in his heavyweight debut back in March. Makhachev’s point seems to be that defeating a fighter who had just suffered a loss doesn’t solidify Jones’ claim to the P4P throne.

Makhachev further expressed his opinion on the UFC’s promotional strategies, stating, “I fought with a fighter who was in 1st place P4P (Volkanovski), but UFC has its own policy. They promote people they want and they know how to do it well.” These comments hint at a potential disparity between rankings based on merit and the organization’s preferences when it comes to elevating certain fighters.

Makhachev gives his opinion on the BMF belt and Jon Jones vs Sergei Pavlovich matchup

The interview also touched upon the much-debated BMF belt. When asked about his interest in the title, Makhachev responded incredulously, saying, “BMF belt… what could be worse than that?”

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His dismissive tone suggests a lack of enthusiasm for a belt that some see as more of a marketing gimmick than a significant accolade.

Additionally, Makhachev shared his thoughts on a potential matchup between Sergei Pavlovich and Jon Jones. While acknowledging the challenge, he expressed confidence in Pavlovich’s abilities, saying, “It will be hard, but Pavlovich can deal with anyone.” Makhachev even recounted his own experience of working with Pavlovich, praising the heavyweight’s immense strength.

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