‘He’s got to be’… Sean O’Malley disputes Dana White’s claim that Islam Makhachev isn’t pound-for-pound number one
Current UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has disputed Dana White’s claim that Islam Makhahcev isn’t the current pound-for-pound number-one fighter in the world.
Following his monumental win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 this past weekend, Islam Makhachev equaled the record for the most amount of UFC lightweight title defenses.
Despite Makhachev’s growing dominance over the 155lb division, UFC CEO, Dana White, admitted that he doesn’t believe the Russian is the current pound-for-pound best fighter in the world.
Sean O’Malley backs Islam Makhachev as pound-for-pound number-one
During the UFC 302 post-fight press conference, White claimed that as long as Jon Jones is an active fighter, no one else will surpass him as the pound-for-pound number-one.
The current UFC rankings have Makhachev as number one, despite White’s opinion. Jones has only fought once in the past four years, with his win coming against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.
Jones was scheduled to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 this past November but pulled out of the fight due to a pectoral injury. The champion is hoping that the fight will be rebooked for this coming November.
UFC bantamweight champion, Sean O’Malley, is confused by the boss’s comments and has backed the Russian champion as pound-for-pound number one, not ‘Bones’ Jones.
“Dana White rejects Islam Makhachev as number one pound-for-pound fighter, how, what do you mean?” O’Malley questioned on the recent episode of the Timbo and Sugar Show.
“He’s got to be pound-for-pound (number one), who (else)? He said Jon Jones is number one pound-for-pound right now in 2024? (It’s) Islam,” the champion added.
Sean O’Malley comments on Makhachev’s possible move to welterweight
Following his win over Poirier, the 32-year-old champion stated his desire to fight for a second belt next, having already been linked to a fight against Leon Edwards previously.
Edwards is scheduled to fight Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 on July 27, and the Russian is eyeing a potential matchup against either welterweight, despite having trained with Muhammad.
“(Islam vs Leon) that would be sweet. I’d be f****** pumped for that fight. Or Belal vs Islam. I feel like Belal is just a bigger Islam, I don’t know, Belal’s f****** sick,” O’Malley claimed.
Although Makhachev is hopeful of fighting for the welterweight title next, Dana White stated that the lightweight champion will likely defend his title against Arman Tsarukyan next instead.
“Arman is so skilled, bro. That’d be so crazy if Arman (became) champ,” O’Malley finished.
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