Dana White is finally ready to give Islam Makhachev flowers.
After Makhachev retained his lightweight title with a first-round submission over Renato Carneiro in the main event of UFC 311 on Saturday night, White said the Dagestani is one of the top pound-for-pound talents in the sport. admitted that. This is a major change in policy for White. For months, he has expressed frustration that Makhachev is ranked higher than heavyweight champion Jon Jones in the organization’s pound-for-pound poll.
“He’s already No. 1 pound-for-pound, so yeah, let’s give it to him,” White said in the UFC 311 post-fight press conference. “Are you all happy now that he can fight pound-for-pound?”
The UFC CEO came away impressed with Makhachev’s willingness to adapt when his original opponent, Arman Tsarukyan, withdrew from the main event the day before the fight. The reigning lightweight champion didn’t blink when “Moicano” was suddenly suggested as his replacement opponent.
“Islam was ready to fight anyone,” White said. “He stayed active and came out tonight and showed the behavior of a guy who’s on short notice when you’re the best in the world and the champion.”
It’s no surprise that Makhachev has extended his winning streak to 15, but Whyte’s sudden change in attitude could be related to his negotiations with Jones regarding a possible heavyweight title unification fight with Tom Aspinall. There is. After finishing Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 this November, Jones hinted that he might be convinced to return to fight Aspinall for a big payday. So far, there is no update on the status of that match, but White has previously all but guaranteed that the match will take place. Additionally, Jones’ most intriguing opponent, Alex Pereira, is set to face Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March.
Regardless of how the meeting between Jones and Aspinall goes, White seemed confident as he expressed his views on Makhachev’s place in the sport.
“There’s no doubt about it, 100 percent,” White said. “He’s currently the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and certainly the best player in this division to ever do it.”
