“He is one of those guys”: Islam Makhachev’s rise draws praise from Jon Jones as Dana White shifts UFC pound-for-pound crown

Islam Makhachev is getting praise from one of the biggest names in MMA. Jon Jones spoke openly about the UFC welterweight champion during a recent interview in Thailand and made it clear how highly he thinks of the Russian star.

Jon Jones said Islam Makhachev is already one of the greatest fighters the sport has ever seen.The interview was shared by Red Corner MMA in early January 2026 while Jon Jones was in Thailand. When asked where he would rank Islam Makhachev on the MMA GOAT list, Jones did not hesitate. He said Makhachev belongs among the all-time greats after his recent dominant wins inside the Octagon.

Jon Jones praises Islam Makhachev after UFC 322 win in Thailand interview

Jon Jones spoke about Islam Makhachev just days after Makhachev’s title defense at UFC 322, where the champion dominated Jack Della Maddalena. The fight took place in late 2025, and Makhachev once again showed strong control, calm movement, and sharp finishes.Speaking to Red Corner MMA in Thailand, Jon Jones said, “I think Islam is definitely one of the greatest fighters of all time. He is one of the guys for sure.” Jones went further and explained why Makhachev stands out.“No, I’m not surprised he is dominating the competition. He is a special athlete. Some guys are just chosen to do great things, and I think he is one of those guys,” Jones said.

“I’m excited to watch the rest of his career. He is doing everything right, and he is one of the guys in the sport I respect very much.”

The respect goes both ways. The late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the legendary coach and father of Khabib Nurmagomedov, had once called Jon Jones the greatest fighter MMA had ever seen. That history makes Jones’ words carry even more weight. Right now, Jon Jones is also planning his own return. He has said he hopes to fight on the rumored UFC White House card in the United States. But UFC CEO Dana White has shown caution after the long title delay involving Tom Aspinall, making Jones’ next move uncertain.For years, Dana White publicly said Jon Jones deserved the pound-for-pound No.1 spot whenever he was active. Jon Jones is almost unbeaten in MMA and has held titles at both light heavyweight and heavyweight with 12 total defenses.That changed at UFC 311. At that event, Islam Makhachev submitted Renato Moicano in the first round after Moicano stepped in on short notice. The fight took place in the United States in late 2025. After the bout, Dana White was asked directly if Makhachev was now the true pound-for-pound king.“Yeah, yeah. I’ll give it to him,” White said at the post-fight press conference. “Islam is willing to fight anybody. He stayed active and performed the way a guy should when you’re the best in the world.”Since then, Islam Makhachev’s calm dominance, quick finishes, and steady activity have pushed him even higher in fans’ and fighters’ eyes, including Jon Jones.Also Read: Ilia Topuria Speaks Out After Court Hearing And Gives Hopeful Update On Daughter With Giorgina Uzcategui Badell