Islam Makhachev's coach explains how he has overtaken Jon Jones for UFC's top pound-for-pound spot
01/05/2025 04:27 PM
Coach Javier Mendez believes there are distinct differences between Islam Makhachev and Jon Jones that set them apart in the pound-for-pound debate.
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will return to the Octagon at UFC 311 in a rematch five years in the making against Arman Tsarukyan. Makhachev enters his upcoming title defense as the UFC’s pound-for-pound No. 1, despite strong critiques of the rankings by UFC CEO Dana White.
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones made his case for the No. 1 spot when he put on a dominant performance against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. It was his long-awaited first heavyweight title defense after almost two full years away from the cage due to injury.
Makhachev, Jones, and UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira are three of the most popular names in the pound-for-pound discussion. For Makhachev’s head coach, the UFC lightweight champion’s consistent activity level gives him the nod over Jones.
Coach Javier Mendez discounts Jon Jones’s activity level in P4P debate
In a recent interview with Hablemos MMA, coach Javier Mendez compared Makhachev and Jones’s pound-for-pound cases.
"This is what I always say: How many fights does Jon Jones have in the last four years? Tell me. How many?" Mendez said of the Makhachev/Jones debate. "If you said six or seven, OK. But how many does he have? Two in four years.
"No, you need to fight more than that (for pound-for-pound best). If Islam were to do the same, I'd put Jon Jones at No. 1 – but he hasn't fought (as much). If he had been active, then it's a different conversation – but he's barely fought. That reason alone, I put Islam at No. 1." (h/t MMA Junkie)
Mendez then pinpointed the lone marker that holds Jones back in his pound-for-pound rankings.
"Jon Jones fought Miocic, who was (42), and hadn't fought in like four years, so he wasn't the same. Jon Jones is supreme. He's an excellent talent and has never lost in his whole life,” Mendez said of Jones. “It's tough to critique him, because he's fought everyone, but he just hasn't fought much in the last four years."
Jones is expected to return to the Octagon later this year, likely against interim titleholder Tom Aspinall. Jones and the UFC are in active negotiations to solidify his return.
It’s fair to mention that Mendez was the longtime coach of Jones’ biggest UFC rival, Daniel Cormier, during the former’s UFC Hall of Fame career. The heat between Cormier and Jones remains to this day.
Islam Makhachev looks to cement P4P status at UFC 311
Makhachev most recently defeated Dustin Poirier in the UFC 302 main event, his first non-Alexander Volkanovski-involved title defense. He earned the belt by submitting Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 and quickly ascended the pound-for-pound rankings.
Makhachev and Jones have the opportunity to battle it out for the pound-for-pound No. 1 spot in the coming months. Pereira, who won three fights in 2024, is also firmly in the mix.
Makhachev will get a headstart to add pound-for-pound separation later this month at UFC 311, and 2025 figures to be another eventful year for the elite fighters.
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