Islam Makhachev's coach shares the "only reason" Jon Jones is not his P4P #1 fighter
Islam Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, has entered the ongoing debate surrounding the UFC pound-for-pound (P4P) rankings and Dana White's assertion that Jon Jones should occupy the No.1 spot on the list. The discussion has escalated to the point that White is reportedly considering AI to take over the ranking system, moving away from the traditional media panel voting approach.
Moreover, the UFC CEO recently claimed that he could entertain the idea of Alex Pereira being ranked higher than Jones, citing Pereira's successful transition from middleweight to light heavyweight. Mendez shed light on the matter in a recent interview with Red Corner MMA and championed Makhachev's spot on top of the weight-neutral rankings.
While he recognized Jones’ achievements, he pointed out his hesitation to place Jones at the top of the list due to inactivity. He said:
"My thing is [if] Jon Jones was active then maybe I would have a different opinion. When was the last time Jon Jones fought? He fought [in] what 2021? How can you be pound-for-pound if you haven't fought? You have to fight, you have to be active. You can't continue to say you're the P4P king. Do I think he's one of the greatest fighters? Absolutely!"
Check out Javier Mendez's comments below (1:15):
Jones was last seen inside the octagon against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023. 'Bones' impressed everyone with his dominant performance on his heavyweight debut and claimed the vacant UFC heavyweight championship with a first-round submission win. He's scheduled to make the first defense of his title against former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.
Jon Jones' coach backs the UFC heavyweight champion's decision to retire after UFC 309
Jon Jones has claimed that he might retire after his fight against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. His longtime coach Brandon Gibson has backed his decision, asserting that the retirement call should be determined solely by him.
While Gibson believes Jones still has the physical and mental capability to perform at a high level, he recognizes that 'Bones' deserves to leave the sport on his terms. Speaking about Jones' potential retirement after the upcoming fight at Madison Square Garden in an interview with MMA Fighting, Gibson said:
"Whenever Jon’s ready [to retire], I’m right there with him. I’m approaching this one like it’s our last go, it’s our last rodeo. I think physically, and mentally, he could go in there and have five or six more great performances. [But] there’s nothing left for Jon to prove. I think he really wants this fight with Stipe.
"I think this fight will help solidify Jon’s status as that great heavyweight champion but it’s not something we talk about every night at the gym. We’re definitely all eyes on Nov. 16. But each time I go to a practice, I’m approaching it as this is my last camp. I’m giving it my all."
Check out Brandon Gibson's comments below (13:20):