Islam Makhachev successfully defended his lightweight title in a dominant display against Renato Moicano at UFC 311. His victory not only solidified his status as the champion but also garnered praise from Dana White.
Despite Makhachev’s impressive 14-fight win streak leading up to the event, Dana White had consistently hailed Jon Jones as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. However, Makhachev’s remarkable performance at UFC 311 prompted White to acknowledge him as the new pound-for-pound king, surpassing Jones.
White conceded, “He’s already the pound-for-pound No. 1 ranking. Yeah, I’ll give it to him.” This recognition came after Makhachev’s continuous success in the octagon, including eight wins in the past four years, with four of them being title fights.
White commended Makhachev for his willingness to face any opponent and his exceptional performance at UFC 311. He stated, “Islam was willing to fight anybody. He’s stayed active and he went out tonight and performed the way a guy should when you are the best in the world and the champion.”
Prior to UFC 311, Makhachev held the top spot in the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound Rankings, a position solidified by his victory over Moicano.
White, who had staunchly defended Jones at the top of the rankings, admitted that Makhachev’s performance at UFC 311 had changed his perspective. He humorously remarked, “Don’t be dicks. I just admitted I’m giving it to him and he’s the pound-for-pound [best].”
White praised Makhachev for his fearless attitude in stepping up to face Moicano on short notice after Tsarukyan’s withdrawal due to injury. He highlighted Makhachev’s commitment to backing up his words with actions.
Furthermore, White declared Makhachev as not only the best pound-for-pound fighter currently but also the greatest lightweight in UFC history. He stated, “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.”