Jones Fires Back At Makhachev GOAT Talk

Jon Jones has weighed in on the GOAT debate reignited by Islam Makhachev's record-breaking performance at UFC 330 — and he is not buying it.

Makhachev broke Anderson Silva's record for most consecutive UFC victories with his unanimous decision win over Ian Machado Garry, prompting a wave of debate over whether the welterweight champion belongs in the conversation for the greatest UFC fighter of all time. Jones responded on X with characteristic bluntness.

"Hopped on social media and heard there was a new GOAT? I'm so confused, make it make sense."

https://x.com/Home_of_Fight/status/2090137593279041825

Jones accompanied the message with an image showing the all-time leaders in UFC title fight wins — Jones at the top with 16, ahead of Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson and Amanda Nunes. Makhachev sits at seven title fight wins following UFC 330.

The gap in the numbers is significant, and Jones clearly feels it is being glossed over in the rush to crown a new all-time great. He made a similar point recently when dismissing Daniel Cormier's case for Khabib Nurmagomedov's GOAT status.

Jones himself has been away from competition since walking away from MMA last year following a prolonged contract dispute with the UFC over a fight with Tom Aspinall. He briefly teased a return during the White House card build-up before being excluded by Dana White.

Makhachev, for his part, has shut down any suggestion of retirement despite the speculation that followed UFC 330. The pound-for-pound king is not going anywhere — and neither, it seems, is Jones's opinion of where he ranks.