Islam Makhachev close to dethroning Jon Jones and Demetrious Johnson according to top coach

Islam Makhachev gets compared to Jon Jones and Demetrious Johnson in terms of well-roundedness as an MMA fighter.

Islam Makhachev close to dethroning Jon Jones and Demetrious Johnson according to top coach

Islam Makhachev to beat the likes of Demetrious Johnson and Jon Jones soon ? (via Imago)

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is currently recognized as the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world right now. The fighter has already defended his belt four times, which is more than anybody else in the entire UFC lightweight history. However, for Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, the Dagestan fighter still has the potential to accomplish even greater things than this.

Islam Makhachev’s dominance stems from his rare ability to knock out opponents and wrestle them effectively, making him extremely well-rounded. Mendez recently spoke during a podcast episode where he discussed and praised the impressive overall fighting ability shown by Makhachev. He compared Makhachev’s complete skillset with legendary names such as Jon Jones and Demetrious Johnson, recognizing his outstanding talent.

I’ve been saying Islam is the most well-rounded fighter in the lightweight division. The reason why I don’t go with all time is only because of Demetrious [Johnson]. There are two guys that are in contention for that title, and that is Jon Jones and Demetrious, but having Islam in that category is unbelievable because at the rate he’s going, if he continues, he could very well end up becoming the GOAT.

Javier Mendez via The Javier and Mo Show 

Jones has always been a well-rounded fighter and dominated wrestlers such as Daniel Cormier on two different occasions. He has also fought tough strikers such as Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua, Quinton Jackson and has defeated them with ease. He has also submitted elite opponents like Lyoto Machida, proving his exceptional grappling skills under intense championship-level UFC competition.

Johnson, similarly, has displayed his striking against Henry Cejudo and showcased elite grappling when submitting Ray Borg with a suplex-armbar. Johnson’s footwork, clinch fighting, and positional control allowed him to dominate almost every opponent throughout his historic flyweight reign. On paper, Makhachev has a lot to do in order to catch up with these legends, but, his dominance is unbelievable. 

Makhachev was initially criticized heavily for relying on a wrestling-heavy style, but over time, he completely won over haters. His ferociousness inside the cage and strong intentions to finish opponents make him an extremely entertaining fighter for fans worldwide. The lightweight champion’s evolving skill set has made it increasingly harder for fans and analysts to bet against him, even when moving up.

When Islam Makhachev questioned Jon Jones’ pound-for-pound status

Jon Jones dominated the pound-for-pound rankings for years, defeating legends as well as young challengers. He became the youngest UFC champion ever, defending his light heavyweight title a record-setting eight consecutive times with remarkable consistency. Jones’ unmatched skillset and wars with others earned him multiple Fighter of the Year awards and historical recognition.

Islam Makhachev slams Jon Jones' rankings
Islam Makhachev slams Jon Jones’ rankings (via X)

After dominating the light heavyweight division, he eventually moved up to capture the heavyweight title, solidifying his position as one of the greatest fighters. However, for Islam Makhachev, Jones’ inactivity was one of the biggest points of criticism for his rankings. At UFC 294, where he defended his belt for the second time, he publicly mocked Jones for this. 

If you’re a real champion you have to take the fight, it doesn’t matter how many days, who it’s going to be, not like your pound-for-pound champion [Jon Jones] when they gave him Chael Sonnen. Who he beat in last five fights? We don’t have some name from top pound-for-pound rankings. And I just want to say about the rankings, about all these things. This is bulls*hit and I don’t follow this anymore.

Islam Makhachev via UFC 294 post-fight presser

Since then, the Dagestani has beaten Jones by becoming the pound-for-pound number one, holding that position for a while. Despite Makhachev’s continued success, UFC CEO Dana White wasn’t happy with the rankings, consistently backing Jones over Makhachev. At UFC 311, Makhachev finished Renato Moicano with ease, forcing White to finally accept the change in the rankings.

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