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Luke Rockhold Dismisses Jon Jones As UFC's Pound-For-Pound Best Over Islam Makhachev: 'I Think It's Bullsh*t'

Originally posted on MMA News | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated 10/24/23

Despite two wins over former pound-for-pound king Alexander Volkanovski this year, reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev is still yet to touch that throne.

Makhachev first beat Volkanovski in Perth this past February, where he narrowly outpointed the Australian across five rounds inside the RAC Arena. Given the featherweight kingpin's competitive performance, he remained above the Dagestani in the P4P pecking order.

While that led to plenty of debate, it ultimately didn't matter a few weeks later, when Jon Jones return to top spot courtesy of his heavyweight title win opposite Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in Las Vegas.

This past weekend at UFC 294, Makhachev ran it back with Volkanovski on short notice. In the Abu Dhabi-held event's headliner, the champ added an exclamation point to his superiority over "Alexander the Great" at 155 pounds by knocking him out in round one.

Although that result was able to convince the powers that be to elevate him above Volkanovski, he was unable to ascend further than #2 in the latest rankings update owing to the presence of Jones.

That has left one man familiar with Makhachev's talents unamused.

Rockhold: Gane Win Didn't Warrant P4P Crown For Jones

During a recent interview with Helen Yee, former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold gave his take on the often-polarizing P4P debate.

Speaking prior to Makhachev's second triumph over Volkanovski on Saturday, the ex-Strikeforce titleholder dismissed Jones as deserving of the position, pointing to some of Jones' last outings at 205 pounds and insisting his victory over Ciryl Gane didn't warrant top spot.

With that in mind, he firmly labeled the UFC 294 main event as the rightful battle for the pound-for-pound crown.

"I mean, I think they're (winner of Makhachev vs. Volkanovski) more deserving of that spot," Rockhold said. "I think Jon showed a lot of weakness against a lot of light heavyweights, where he barely scratched through multiple title fights. Just because he came back and fought Ciryl Gane, a ranked heavyweight, not the champion, he became number one pound-for pound. I think it's bullsh*t. That's not correct."

Rockhold has experience battling with Makhachev, having shared the mats with him at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. The ex-champ described both Makhachev and his fellow Dagestani Khabib Nurmagomedov as significantly better grapplers than anyone else in their weight class.

Although Makhachev has firmly proved those abilities throughout his rise to the title and reign thus far, he's yet to convince the rankings panel of his P4P superiority over Jones.

As far as the fight, may the best man win. I was just talking about in life. Islam made some negative comments recently. No need for me to respond with negativity. I have bigger fish to fry right now. https://t.co/fF0OJI9iYy
— BONY (@JonnyBones) October 18, 2023