UFC 302 was filled with exciting bouts from start to finish, as the night was capped-off by a classic duel between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier. Makhachev retained his Lightweight title with a fifth-round submission via d'arce choke in a fight that had it all and later garnered a $100k bonus from UFC President Dana White. After the fights, Dana White took to the podium to address the media in his usual post-fight presser.
The UFC website currently ranks Makhachev as the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world, just ahead of Jon Jones. With his win over Dustin Poirier, he ties the Lightweight record with three title defenses and fully intends on moving up in weight to challenge Leon Edwards for his Welterweight belt. Makhachev and those around him firmly believe that his P4p ranking is justified.
White was asked about the current rankings and who he believes stands at the top. Without hesitation, White praised Jon Jones as the best combat athlete of all time. As long as Jones is actively fighting MMA, he's the baddest man on the planet according to Dana White.
When asked about whether he thinks Islam ranks number one, White said, “I don't think he's the 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 fighting is nuts and shouldn't be doing any of the rankings. As long as Jon Jones is still fighting, active, and in the rankings, no one is better pound-for-pound.”
We've seen Dana White make these claims time and time again even before Jon Jones moved up to heavyweight and captured the belt. With White being even more justified in his opinion, he firmly believes not a single person would survive against Jon Jones if it came down to it and he'll stick by that claim just as he has in the past.
White continued, “Jon Jones is absolutely, positively, the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world and probably the greatets fighter of all-time in any sport.”
White was also asked about whether he knew about Jon Jone possibly suggesting a November date in New York City for his fight with Stipe Miocic, to which he enthusiastically replied “Sounds great, let's do it.”
With Jon Jones still rehabbing from a torn pectoral he sustained while wrestling, he should be good to fight before the calendar year is over. While they may be speculation on who he'll be fighting, when, and where, Dana White has made it very clear that Stipe Miocic is the only fight to make and it will take place in New York. We'll be waiting patiently for a set-date in the near futue.
Follow Us
Subscribe
