Dana White continues to strongly defend Jon Jones being the number 1 fighter pound for pound.
UFC CEO perplexed by media vote on lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter over former longtime 205-pound champion and current heavyweight champion Jones.
White says the fact that Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) has never lost in two weight classes — other than a disqualification blemish to Matt Hamill, should make him No. 1.
“When you talk about, really, now – and Islam, I love you, Islam – the fact that Jon Jones is number 2 on the pound for pound list just shows how fucking stupid it is – the media votes for it” , White said in FLAGANT podcast. “(This) just goes to show that they don’t have a clue. They don’t know anything about this damn sport. Jon Jones never lost a fight.
“And when you talk about what it really means to be pound for pound, (Alexander) Volkanovski stepped up and it was a very close fight the first time (against Makhachev). Jon Jones stepped up and completely decimated the biggest heavyweight there was at the time. (If Ciryl Gane) doesn’t try the armbar, he beats Francis Ngannou and becomes heavyweight champion. Jon Jones walked past (Gane) like it was nothing.”
A panel of media members selected by promotion officials votes for the UFC’s official weekly rankings. MMA Junkie staff members do not participate in these rankings. Jones is No. 1 in USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie MMA weight-by-pound list; Makhachev is number 2
Makhachev has just defended his third title when he submitted Dustin Poirier in the main fight of UFC 302 last Saturday. He has aspirations of moving up in weight class to challenge for the next welterweight title.
Jones is expected to make his first title defense against the consensus greatest heavyweight of all time, Stipe Miocic, later this year.
“Jon Jones is the baddest guy to ever be involved in combat sports,” White said.
