UFC CEO Dana White has seen many great fighters in his time. Nevertheless, Jon Jones remains the greatest fighter of all time for him. The admiration or appreciation took a bizarre step when White considered Jones as the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter at present. In fact, the head honcho went a step further, slamming MMA media voting on choosing wrong.
Dana White did his due diligence in respecting Islam Makhachev as a top fighter. The lightweight champion overcame Dustin Poirier, submitting him in Round 5 in this past Saturday’s main event. This ties him to a staggering triple-title defense and a 14-fight winning streak. However, the CEO has a strong distaste for the media, voting Makhachev as the No. 1 pound-for-pound over ‘Bones.’
When you talk about, truly, right now – and Islam, I love you Islam…the fact that Jon Jones is No. 2 on the pound-for-pound list just goes to show how fu*king stupid – the media votes on that…[it] just goes to show you that they have no fu*king idea. They know nothing about this fu*king sport! Jon Jones has never lost a fight ever…Jones is the fu*king baddest dude to ever be involved in combat sports…
Dana White via Andrew Schulz’s FLAGRANT Podcast (@OfficialFlagrant)
Dana White says that Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) being undefeated in two divisions, minus one disqualified loss to Matt Hamill – should make him number one. The UFC taskmaster also alludes to Islam Makhachev’s lone skid. Yet, White refuses to admit the most important criteria – what have you done lately? Makhachev has done more than Jones has in the last two years.
Jon Jones has remained a change engine for much contentious adversity. He refused to fight Chael Sonnen for the UFC 151 title main event. Instead of facing Francis Ngannou, Jones took a sabbatical over pay disputes. Now, retirement plans after a single maiden defense make a heavyweight title defense impossible. Nevertheless, Dana White goes out of his way to instill Jones as P4P No. 1.
Dana White dumps on Islam Makhachev’s ‘close war’ with Alexander Volkanovski for P4P debate
The days when Dana White would scuffle against Jones’ notorious life outside the ring are long gone. Everybody knows he has taken a shine to the all-time G.O.A.T. He even recently sparked a big counter by saying he respects Makhachev, but Jon Jones stands as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.
Dana White alludes to Islam Makhachev’s close calls and blemishes in pound-for-pound debate (Source: X/UFC.go.com)The 32-year-old from Team Eagles MMA defeated Alexander Volkanovski in the latter’s bid for two-division glory. The Aussie held the top spot on the UFC Official pound-for-pound listings at the time. White used their UFC 284 encounter to make a case for Jon Jones as the P4P No. 1 fighter.
When you talk about what it really means to be pound-for-pound, [Alexander] Volkanovski moved up and it was a very fu*king stupid close fight the first time…Jon Jones moved up and absolutely fu*king decimated the greatest heavyweight that was out there right now. If [Ciryl Gane] doesn’t go for that armbar, he beats Francis Ngannou…becomes the heavyweight champion. Jon Jones walked through (Gane) like it was fu*king nothing.
Dana White via Andrew Schulz’s FLAGRANT Podcast (@OfficialFlagrant)
Dana White recounts the heavyweight debut of the Team Jackson Acoma fighter as a prime point of why he treads above. ‘Predator’ Ngannou capitalized on a fateful kneebar from Ciryl Gane to defeat him at UFC 270. Soon after, the French-Cameroonian left and opted for free agency.
Had Gane not lost that, White thinks he would have absolutely defeated the genetic beast and powerhouse Ngannou via decision. Consequently, Jones made easy work of Gane in his 265-pound debut. Compared to Makhachev’s close-call title defenses with the featherweight king, he codifies Jones had a more spectacular performance.
