Islam Makhachev defended the lightweight title and his pound-for-pound status in the main event of UFC 302 against Dustin Poirier. Controversy erupted after the press conference of UFC 302 as CEO Dana White argued Jon Jones was the best. Makhachev’s head coach, Javier Mendez, has now weighed in on the debate.
Mendez was a recent guest on Submission Radio, fresh of his pupil’s record-tying title defense at the Prudential Center. White’s take had found supporters and detractors from across the MMA community. Most fighters supported Dana White’s claim, while the media was against it. Mendez had an interesting take on the debate.
Dana [White] made common sense in what he said, but I still hold true to my guy. Loyalty, right? Loyalty above anything. So, I’m loyal to my guys, so my guy is P for P. That’s it, you know? But yeah, Dana has good points.
Javier Mendez via Submission Radio
Mendez cited everybody has their opinion and will likely have proof to stake their claim. Moreover, the coach revealed that he understood White’s claim that Jon Jones had never ‘actually lost’ in the UFC and was now a double champion in the promotion.
Mendez is now in a debate about who the pound-for-pound is between Jones and one of his prized pupils, Islam Makhachev. Funnily enough, Mendez had debated who was the GOAT between Jones and Khabib Nurmagomedov, another one of his prized pupils.
What did Javier Mendez say of Jon Jones’s GOAT status?
After Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from professional MMA at UFC 254, Javier Mendez stated Nurmagomedov was the GOAT of MMA. Since he had only fought 13 times in the UFC, many felt Nurmagomedov didn’t do enough to stake the claim. Nonetheless, Nurmagomedov retired as the pound-for-pound king.
Jon Jones (via Bleacher Report)Mendez appeared on the Real Quick with Mike Swick Podcast after UFC 254 and spoke about who the GOAT of MMA is. Even though he felt Nurmagomedov was the GOAT at the time, Mendez also stated Jones could be the GOAT if he returned and claimed the heavyweight title. Jones was on a hiatus at the time. Jones indeed returned and claimed the heavyweight title.
However, Mendez had wanted Jones to claim the title from the winner of Francis Ngannou vs. Stipe Miocic II. Ngannou defeated Miocic at UFC 260, defended the title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270, and left the UFC. Jones won the vacant title, defeating Gane. As such, Jones has not yet become the GOAT of MMA in the eyes of Javier Mendez. Jones’ refusal to fight interim champion Tom Aspinall also doesn’t make his case any easier.
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