The lightweight titleholder is set to return to the cage this Saturday night at UFC 294. Back for the first time since February, Islam Makhachev will again face Alexander Volkanovski.
At media day earlier this week, the lightweight champion took a bit of a shot at Jon Jones.
That shot was a reference to ‘Bones’ saga at UFC 151 well over a decade ago. Infamously, Jon Jones declined to face short-notice replacement Chael Sonnen at the event after Dan Henderson withdrew. In comparison, Islam Makhachev accepted a fight with ‘The Great’ on a similar notice and will fight this Saturday night.
Leading up to the rematch, during a recent appearance at media day in Abu Dhabi, Islam Makhachev spoke about what being a real champion is all about, and in the process dissed Jon ‘Bones’ Jones saying:
“You know, this is what UFC champion have to do. Like real champ, if you’re real champion, you have to take this, take fight, doesn’t matter how many days, who it’s going to be. Not like your pound-for-pound champion when they give him Chael Sonnen. If you’re a real champion, you have to fight.”
Continuing the 31-year-old Makhachev said:
“They put him (Jones) number one, the number one guy right now, who he beat? Who he beat last five fight? We don’t have some name from top pound-for-pound rankings and I just want to say about the rankings, about all this things. This is bullsh*t and I’m not following anymore.”
Those comments came while Islam Makhachev was discussing his goal to be pound-for-pound number one. With that in mind, the man holding that spot, the aforementioned Jon Jones, reacted to his comments earlier today.
On social media, the heavyweight champion Jon Jones issued a very classy statement in response.
“I wish you all the best Habibi @MAKHACHEVMMA,” Jon Jones wrote on social media, responding to Islam Makhachev’s comments at UFC 294 fight week. “… 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.”
Jon Jones continued,
“…“Heavy is the head that wears the crown.” Criticism comes with the territory… I want to encourage the young fighters to beat some of my records instead of using their lips. Now thats gangsta.”
