Dana White Changes Course, Acknowledges Makhachev as No. 1 Pound-for-Pound Fighter

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Dana White is finally ready to give Islam Makhachev his flowers.


After Makhachev retained his lightweight title with a first-round submission of Renato Carneiro in the UFC 311 main event on Saturday night, White conceded that the Dagestani is the top pound-for-pound talent in the sport. That’s a significant change in course for White, who for months has expressed his displeasure that Makhachev was ranked ahead of heavyweight champion Jon Jones in the promotion’s pound-for-pound poll.

“He’s already the pound-for-pound No. 1 ranking. Yeah, I’ll give it to him,” White said at the UFC 311 post-fight press conference. “Is everybody happy now that he’s pound-for-pound?

The UFC CEO came away impressed with Makhachev’s willingness to adapt when original foe Arman Tsarukyan pulled out of the main event just one day before their fight. The reigning lightweight champ didn’t blink when “Moicano” was proposed as a replacement foe on short notice.

“Islam was willing to fight anybody,” White said. “He’s stayed active and he went out tonight and performed the way a guy should on a short-notice fight when you are the best in the world and you are the champion.”

While Makhachev is deservedly getting credit for a winning streak that now sits at 15, White’s sudden change in stance could be linked to negotiations with Jones for a potential heavyweight title unification bout against Tom Aspinall. After finishing Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 this past November, Jones hinted that he might be convinced to return against Aspinall for a hefty payday. Thus far, there has been no update on the status of that bout, though White previously all but guaranteed the fight would happen. Additionally, Alex Pereira, the opponent that intrigued Jones the most, has now been booked to face Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March.

Regardless of how the Jones-Aspinall talks proceed, White seemed confident when giving his perspective on Makhachev’s standing in the sport.

“One hundred percent, there’s no doubt about it,” White said. “He’s the pound-for-pound best in the world right now and he’s definitely the best to ever do it in that division.”



 
Well by the same logic all Jones has to do is beat anyone in the top 8 from the weightclass below and he is back on top
 
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media giving a shit who Dana thinks is top P4P is weird to me. Its subjective, nobody's answer is wrong. If he thinks Merab is the best who cares.

How about asking Dana real questions like why didnt they book any of the top Aus fights on the Aus card? why isnt Paddy or Allen or Murphy fighting on the UK fight night? Why do you keep saying less Apex shows while you do the same amount every year. Whats status of HW title and whats time limit on Jones saying yes or not.

Why not push back and ask him why Arman who is the clear number 1 contender and the most interesting fight for the champ is now gonna have to go back to the drawing board? Elaborate on that.

Nah lets debate about who is P4P.
 
P4P is so fucking stupid and useless. Not even a real ranking, just a popularity contest.
 
Wow it's almost as if Islam recently had a fight and is currently getting media attention

Dana's #1 pound-for-pound is whichever champion either has a fight this weekend or just won a fight in the last couple days.


..but on a serious note Islam should rightfully be the '#1 p4p" as bs as that title is..... but everybody knows Jones will be the #1P4P as soon as we're in fight week for Jones vs Aspinall... and Topuria will be called #1P4P soon no doubt when he has another fight coming.... what another win for Merab? give him the #1P4P spot he has a fight coming up........

boring brainless bullshit
 
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P4P is so fucking stupid and useless. Not even a real ranking, just a popularity contest.

It is useless as a serious concept. It is not useless as a promotional tool.

And this halfwit demoter has finally worked out he should promote his active fighters rather than fellating Jones at every opportunity.
 
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