‘Is everybody happy now?’ – Dana White makes dramatic U-turn on Jon Jones pound-for-pound debate

Dana White has long heralded Jon Jones as the pound-for-pound best MMA fighter on the planet.
However, the UFC heavyweight champion is ranked No.2 behind lightweight king Islam Makhachev in the official rankings.
Makhachev is currently riding a 15-fight UFC winning streak, which includes four successful title defences at 155lbs.
Along the way he has defeated the likes of Dustin Poirier, Alexander Volkanovski (twice), and Charles Oliveira.
Yet until Saturday night, when Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s protege overcame Renato Moicano in the UFC 311 main event he hadn’t been able to convince his boss that he was the best in the world.
White has repeatedly ripped into the UFC rankings panel for overlooking Jones in favour of Makhachev.
But at the UFC 311 post-fight press conference he changed his stance.
Asked by a member of the media if Islam is his pound-for-pound No.1 rated fighter, White replied: “Yeah.
“I’ll give it to him. Are you happy? Is everybody happy now?”
Makhachev was in sensational form at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California as he dragged Moicano to the canvas and locked in a D’arce choke to close the show inside the opening stanza.
Before the fight Makhachev was joint for the most lightweight title defences in UFC history with three, alongside his mentor Nurmagomedov, Benson Henderson and BJ Penn.
But his win over Moicano put him clear of the pack.
Moicano stepped in to face Makhachev on one day’s notice after Arman Tsarukyan was forced out of the fight with a back injury.
According to White, the Russian superstar accepted the call without hesitation.
“When I called Islam he said ‘Brother, I’m the champion. I don’t care who it is, I will fight anyone’,” White shared.
“I don’t care, I’m going to bed. When I wake up, and whoever I’m fighting tomorrow, I’m good with.”
It is this elite mentality that separates contenders from champions.
And there is no doubting the fact that Makhachev is a true champion.
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