Jon Jones currently ranks third in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings, a position that UFC President Dana White finds shameful. The lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, holds the top spot, followed by light heavyweight and former middleweight champion Alex Pereira.

White’s Defense of Jones

White has been vocal about his belief that Jones should be number one. He emphasized Jones’ history of overcoming significant challenges, including his dominant victory over Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title in March 2023. Despite Jones’ inactivity, White maintains that his achievements in two weight classes merit the top spot.

“Jon Jones is the best ever. Ever. And when I say ever, I mean in any combat sport,” White asserted.

Criticism and Inactivity

Critics argue that Jones’ inactivity undermines his claim to the number one spot. His victory over Gane was his only fight since early 2020, and he was sidelined again by a training injury in November 2023. Critics contend that a fighter with only one match in 4.5 years cannot justifiably be the top pound-for-pound fighter.

White dismissed these criticisms, stating, “Jon Jones is still an active fighter. He’s the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, period”.

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Future Matches

Jones is expected to face former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in November at Madison Square Garden. Tom Aspinall, who recently won an interim heavyweight title, is also in the mix. While some believe Aspinall should fight Jones to unify the titles, White prefers to see Aspinall face the winner of Jones vs. Miocic, adding more intrigue to the heavyweight division.

Conclusion

White’s unwavering support for Jones, despite his inactivity, highlights the ongoing debate about what defines the best pound-for-pound fighter. As Jones prepares for his next bout, the controversy over his ranking continues to fuel discussions within the MMA community.

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