’15 world titles, the numbers don’t lie’: Jon Jones slams suggestions Khabib Nurmagomedov is the best pound-for-pound fighter of all time and insists it will be ‘insulting’ if he is given GOAT status after just three title defences
- Jon Jones does not believe Khabib Nurmagomedov should be given GOAT status
- Jones is currently considered the best pound-for-pound fighter of all time
- Khabib requested the No 1 ranking after defeating Justin Gaethje on Saturday
- Jones insisted it would be insulting as he has just three title defences
Jon Jones has slammed suggestions Khabib Nurmagomedov is the best pound-for-pound fighter of all time with the 15-time champion insisting ‘the numbers don’t lie’.
The Russian announced his retirement after stretching his unbeaten record to 29-0 by beating Justin Gaethje, with UFC president Dana White claiming he deserved GOAT status.
Khabib also made the request for the No 1 spot after the fight, saying: ‘There is only one thing I want from UFC, to put me as No 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world because I deserve it.’
Jon Jones slammed suggestions Khabib Nurmagomedov should be given GOAT status
Khabib requested the No 1 ranking after stretching his unbeaten record to 29-0 on Saturday
Khabib defeated Gaethje in the second round with White revealing he had broken his foot and contracted mumps prior to the fight.
White said: ‘He (Khabib) is one of the toughest human beings on the planet. He’s the No 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world and we seriously need to put him up there as a GOAT status.’
But current No 1 pound-for-pound fighter Jon Jones quickly refuted Khabib’s request and issues a series of tweets defending his status.
UFC president Dana White claimed Khabib was the best pound-for-pound fighter of all time
Jones tweeted: ’15 world titles, numbers don’t lie’, following the 32-year-old’s comments in the Octogan.
He continued: ‘I want to congratulate Khabib for an outstanding career. I know he made his father along with millions of fans around the world incredibly proud today. May God continue to bless him on his journey.’
But Jones continued to fight his corner on and responded to fans who questioned his GOAT status.
‘I’m just going to ask for the heavyweight championship belt and see if they give it to me. Since we can just ask for things now,’ he said in one tweet.
In another, he replied to someone who asked him if he really thought he was the greatest ever, writing: ‘I mean if I get out ranked by a man with only three title defenses, I don’t really know what to think anymore.’
Jones, 33, holds the record for most title defences, most wins, longest win streak, and most submission victories. His only professional defeat came by a controversial disqualification against Matt Hamill.
Jones said it would be ‘insulting’ if UFC honoured Khabib’s request to demote him, saying: ‘The saddest thing about this situation is that the company is probably going to honor his request and demote me. It will be insulting but not much of a surprise. I’ll just use it as motivation.’
He also insisted he was not ‘salty’ and respected Khabib’s record.
‘Not salty at all, I really do respect Khabib, I honor the type of man he is. But being the best is earned not given. Unfortunately four title fights aint it, no matter how much we all like em.’
Khabib defeated Gaethje in the second round despite breaking his foot before the fight
