Islam Makhachev retained his lightweight title with a dominant performance over Renato Moicano in the UFC 311 main event, but his victory earned him even more when it comes to Dana White’s admiration.
Despite Makhachev’s unreal 14-fight win streak prior to Saturday night, while remaining one of the most active champions on the entire UFC roster, White consistently touted Jon Jones as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. White’s argument always came down to Jones’ longevity as champion with wins in 16 UFC title fights, not to mention an unblemished résumé dating back to his debut in 2008 with his only “loss” coming via disqualification in a fight he was winning in lopsided fashion.
While all those accomplishments probably cement Jones as the greatest fighter of all time, he’s only fought twice in the past four years during the same period of time when Makhachev racked up eight wins, including four title fights and then capping that off with another championship victory on Saturday. Makhachev winning at UFC 311 was finally enough for White to concede that he deserves the top spot in those mythical pound-for-pound rankings over Jones.
“He’s already the pound-for-pound No. 1 ranking. Yeah, I’ll give it to him,” White said at the UFC 311 post-fight press conference. “Is everybody happy now that he’s pound-for-pound?
“Islam was willing to fight anybody. He’s stayed active and he went out tonight and performed the way a guy should on a short-notice fight when you are the best in the world and you are the champion.”
Heading into UFC 311, Makhachev was No. 1 in the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound Rankings.
White argued vehemently for months about why he put Jones on top of his list but watching Makhachev perform Saturday, especially given the circumstances surrounding the fight, finally changed his mind.
“Don’t be dicks,” White said with a laugh about backing Jones for so long. “I just admitted I’m giving it to him and he’s the pound-for-pound [best].”
White praised Makhachev for his willingness to step into the fight against Moicano without blinking after originally scheduled title challenger Arman Tsarukyan dropped off the card with a back injury.
In fact, White believes that’s what separates Makhachev from so many other fighters who want to sit in his position because he talks the talk and then he walks the walk.
“For the champ, I told you, I said it publicly, he said ‘Brother, I am the champion, I’m going to bed, whoever I’m fighting tomorrow, I don’t care. I’ll wake up and I’ll fight anybody,’” White revealed. “Came out and did what you’re supposed to do in that position and actually like a stud.”
In addition to his proclamation that Makhachev is now the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, White added one more compliment to his list of accolades. This latest performance not only cemented Makhachev in those rankings, but White believes he’s separated himself from every other lightweight to ever compete in the UFC.
“One hundred percent, there’s no doubt about it,” White said about Makhachev. “He’s the pound-for-pound best in the world right now and he’s definitely the best to ever do it in that division.”
