UFC CEO Dana White found himself in a fiery exchange following Alex Pereira’s stunning victory. The topic was Jon Jones‘ place atop the pound-for-pound rankings. This came at the post-fight press conference after a journalist, Kevin Iole, asked about Jones’ validity in the P4P rankings.
As Alex Pereira‘s stock soared after UFC 303, questions arose about the P4P list’s validity. Kevin Iole suggested it might be time for a reshuffle. White, known for his passionate defense of Jon Jones, wasn’t having it. He launched into a spirited argument, reminiscent of a lawyer defending his star client.Â
White revealed that Jones was the top P4P fighter ever, regardless of the rankings. He had recently snubbed Islam Makhachev’s place as the number 1 P4P fighter after his epic five-round war with Dustin Poirier. White defended Jones as the best fighter ever, but Iole questioned his reasoning. Iole pointed out that Jones hasn’t fought in a long time (since March of 2023). Check out the debate below:
Iole’s argument rested on the fact that Pereira has remained extremely active. He has fought five times since Jon Jones’ last fight, with 4 of those being title fights. He believed Pereira should have a better ranking than Jones in the P4P list, a statement with which White disagreed.
Jones was set to fight Stipe Miocic back at UFC 295. However, a pec injury forced him out. None other than Alex Pereira stepped in to save the main event, given that he was already on the card. Jones will potentially look to make his comeback against Miocic later this year. Whether or not he lingers in the UFC after that remains to be seen. However, the P4P controversy will definitely not die down anytime soon.
Joe Rogan gives his take on the P4P best fighter in UFC
The MMA world is buzzing with a familiar question: Who’s the best pound-for-pound fighter? UFC commentator Joe Rogan recently shared his thoughts on this heated debate. Joe Rogan, known for his candid opinions, tackled the Jon Jones vs. Islam Makhachev controversy. His take is not as clear-cut as some might think.
Joe Rogan gives his take on P4P best (via MMA Fighting)Rogan talked about this issue in his latest JRE Fight Companion show. He acknowledged the merits of both fighters, refusing to pick a definitive winner. This stance puts Rogan at odds with UFC CEO Dana White as Rogan can understand the argument for Makhachev as the P4P best fighter. White has staunchly defended Jones as the undisputed P4P king as long as he isn’t retired.
Pound for pound is so subjective. It’s like Jon Jones or Islam. You know you could say Islam, you could say Jon Jones. I see both arguments.
Joe Rogan via JRE Fight Companion June 22, 2024
Rogan’s willingness to consider both sides has resonated with many fans. It’s a refreshing take on a sport often dominated by polarizing opinions. Jones will return by the end of the year. Makhachev and Pereira will fight again around the same time. As such, the debate will once again take center stage towards October as Makhachev will likely defend his title in the Abu Dhabi PPV card.
