"He’s number two” - Arman Tsarukyan picks P4P best fighter in the world between Islam Makhachev and Jon Jones
The debate between Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev for the pound-for-pound best fighter continues to rage on. Both fighters have displayed levels of domination seldom seen in MMA. However, many believe 'Bones' to be the P4P best fighter in the world due to him having never lost a fight.
Jones holds a lone disqualification defeat on his record, which came against Matt Hamill at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in 2009. The disqualification was a result of the New York native using a technique that was deemed illegal at the time, the 12-6 elbow strike.
However, the 12-6 elbow rule has long been criticized as being useless. The rule was removed in the final quarter of 2024, which has added to the argument that Jones has never 'actually' lost a fight.
Makhachev, however, has been knocked out, a result that took place when he faced Adriano Martins at UFC 192. Since, the Dagestani has gone 14-0 in the promotion.
Ahead of Arman Tsarukyan's title fight with Makhachev at UFC 311, he was interviewed by ESPN MMA. During the interview he was asked if the lightweight champion was the P4P number one fighter in the world, and said:
"In my opinion he's number two pound-for-pound, because number one is Jon Jones. For me, personally. [Makhachev] is number two. But for sure, in [the] 155 [pound division], yeah he's the pound-for-pound [best]."
Check out Arman Tsarukyan discuss Jones and Makhachev below (9:55):
Henry Cejudo explains why Jon Jones should be above Islam Makhachev on P4P list
Jon Jones successfully defended his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. But the victory was not enough to see 'Bones' secure the number one ranking on the UFC's pound-for-pound list, which is still occupied by Islam Makhachev.
But former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo has broken down why the American deserves to be ranked at No.1. 'Triple C' cited moments where Makhachev has looked slightly vulnerable, such as his first fight with Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284.
During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Cejudo said:
"After that performance that Jon Jones did, the way that he was able to do Stipe and just pick him apart, it's hard to not put Jon Jones as No. 1. Islam has struggled with people; he's shown fatigue in the past. Jones has just been annihilating people and dominating people, and I just feel like, as much as I love Islam, I think he's at No. 2."
Check out Henry Cejudo's comments below (5:25):