“It’s Very Hard to Beat Wrestlers” – Jon Jones Picks GOAT Candidate to Defeat Ian Garry at UFC 330

UFC legend Jon Jones recognizes Islam Makhachev's GOAT status and predicts the Dagestani champion to triumph at UFC 330.

“It’s Very Hard to Beat Wrestlers” – Jon Jones Picks GOAT Candidate to Defeat Ian Garry at UFC 330

Jon Jones praises Islam Makhachev (via MMA Fighting)

Jon Jones is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters ever to compete inside the UFC octagon. The Albuquerque native has dominated the GOAT conversation for years through sustained success. He has remained unmatched at the top, with no challenger ever truly closing the gap on his legacy. Now, Jones has picked Islam Makhachev to beat Ian Garry at UFC 330 and join him at the top of the GOAT talks.

Makhachev entered the UFC as the protege of Khabib Nurmagomedov, carrying high expectations from Dagestan’s dominant grappling legacy. His rise continued into two-division championship success after defeating Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 to win the welterweight title. Makhachev is also tied for the longest winning streak in UFC history at 16 straight victories, underlining his dominance.

The Dagestani star makes his first welterweight title defense at UFC 330 in Philadelphia against Ian Garry in the main event. Garry, the number one-ranked welterweight, enters with wins over Belal Muhammad and Carlos Prates. He brings a sharp, striking threat into his first undisputed title challenge. Jones has recently backed Makhachev in the matchup, reinforcing his GOAT-level standing.

I’m going with Islam because he has a wrestling background, and it’s very hard to beat wrestlers. He may just be one of the greatest fighters in the world. Right now, it’s me and maybe him. So, I encourage him to keep going.

Jon Jones via Sport24

Jones has long been protective of his GOAT status and rarely entertains comparisons with other fighters. He recently addressed discussions suggesting Alex Pereira could surpass him if he had won at UFC Freedom 250. The comments showed how closely Jones tracks debates around his legacy in MMA.

‘Bones’ reminded fans why he still holds the GOAT position through his sustained dominance and career achievements. He referenced Pereira being knocked out by Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 co-main event. He ended by wishing good luck to anyone trying to take his GOAT status.

Makhachev and Jones were involved in online debates in 2024 while both held UFC titles in different divisions. The discussion centered on pound-for-pound rankings between the two champions at the time. Makhachev questioned his ranking below Jones, pointing to his inactivity before his UFC 285 return.

Jones has never dismissed Makhachev during their discussions and has consistently shown respect for his abilities. He had also acknowledged the Dagestani star’s rapid rise in such a short time. The former two-division champion believed Makhachev still has a long way to go, but is destined for greatness.

Jon Jones allowing Makhachev a spot beside him on the GOAT list is a surprising shift given his long dominance of the debate. It reflects how Makhachev’s rise has forced even established greats to reassess his standing in MMA. Attention now turns to the Dagestani champion’s first title defense at UFC 330.

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Jon Jones comes to the support of fellow UFC veteran after recent arrest

Dustin Poirier is one of the most decorated veterans in UFC history despite never winning undisputed gold. The Louisiana native built an elite résumé with wins over top contenders at the highest level. He retired in 2025 after a loss to Max Holloway at UFC 318 in his farewell bout.

However, Poirier was arrested in June 2026 at Atlanta airport for alleged public drunkenness after an incident with staff and police. He was briefly taken into custody and booked into jail before being released the same day. The incident involved reports of intoxication and verbal confrontation.

Jon Jones goes off at the UFC
Jon Jones goes off at the UFC (via MMA Mania)

Poirier has been open about struggling with life after retiring from MMA competition. He has described difficulty adjusting to changes in routine and the absence of a fighting structure. Following his arrest, he admitted his mistake and said he needed professional help to manage his personal struggles.

Jon Jones himself recently confirmed his retirement from MMA after a historic career across two divisions. He has also spoken about dealing with arthritis that affected him in the later stages of competition. Following Poirier’s arrest, Jones weighed in and advised the fellow veteran to keep his head high.

I hope that Dustin keeps his head high, gets back on his horse, and realizes that at the end of the day, news is news. Some people say there’s no such thing as bad press. I disagree with that, but press is press, you know? The whole world is talking about him right now. He didn’t hurt anybody. You know, he was drunk. We’ve all been drunk. Alcohol makes you do silly things. It’s important for him to forgive himself and just keep moving forward. At the end of the day, no one really cares. No one really cares.

Jon Jones via Red Corner MMA

‘Bones’ himself has seen struggles with drinking, also including a 2012 DUI arrest in Binghamton, New York, after crashing his Bentley into a pole and pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated. He also faced a 2015 hit-and-run case in Albuquerque that led to him being stripped of his UFC light heavyweight title.

Despite those setbacks, Jon Jones rebuilt his legacy to become a two-division champion and one of MMA’s most dominant fighters. His comments on Dustin Poirier reflect experience shaped by his own past mistakes and long road back to elite competition.

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