Georges St-Pierre says Dustin Poirier fight will make Islam Makhachev "even better": "He's the best pound-for-pound right now"
MMA legend and GOAT contender George St-Pierre gave his thoughts on Islam Makhachev and where he stands on the current pound-for-pound list. St-Pierre, who himself topped the pound-for-pound list in the past, believes the UFC lightweight king easily rules said list today.
In a conversation with his long-time coach, Tristar Gym founder Firas Zahabi, 'GSP' said of Islam Makhachev:
"I think, right now, [Makhachev] is the best pound-for-pound because of his last few performances. Just amazing. An amazing showcase of heart, too, because he had a bad cut on his forehead and [Dustin] Poirier gave him a tough time. Pushed the pace to the edge. And I think that fight will make Makhachev even better because these are the [kind of] fights that make you grow."
When asked if Makhachev has the potential to become a legend like him, Georges St-Pierre said:
"I think he's already starting to get to that status right now. Beating [Alexander] Volkanovski, and his last few performances are amazing."
Watch the full statement here, as posted by Championship Rounds on X:
UFC president Dana White still wouldn't consider Islam Makhachev the pound-for-pound best fighter today
Contrary to what Georges St-Pierre said, UFC president Dana White is adamant that Islam Makhachev is not the pound-for-pound no.1 fighter in the world today. To him, the UFC lightweight kingpin falls second to the great Jon Jones.
Dana White said at the UFC 302 post-event media scrum:
"[Islam Makhachev's] none of the greatest of all time. I think he is incredible. I don't think he is pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. For anybody to call Islam the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world when Jon Jones is still f***ing fighting, it's nuts. [The person in charge] shouldn't be ranking the pound-for-pound or doing any of the f***ing rankings ever, if that's what you really think."
Watch the full statement here, as posted by Jed I. Goodman on X:
Dana White has a point; as great as Makhachev has been in the UFC so far, Jon Jones arguably dominated three different generations of contenders in the promotion. He hasn't truly lost in over 15 years and is unblemished in world title competition at the highest level. Makhachev has just entered the pound-for-pound conversation while Jon Jones has been in it for over a decade.