Jon Jones, the UFC heavyweight champion, addressed controversy over his recent comments about lightweight star Islam Makhachev during an interview with Red Corner MMA on May 20, 2025. The remarks, made while filming a Russian spinoff of The Ultimate Fighter with Nate Diaz, sparked backlash from Russian UFC supporters. Jones had labeled Makhachev, the former lightweight champion, an “up-and-coming fighter,” prompting heated online reactions.
Jones clarified his statement, emphasizing his intent to interpret Diaz’s casual remarks.
“I feel like the comment I made, made a lot of people upset, a lot of Islam’s fans upset,” Jones said. “But really what I was trying to do, was I was trying to translate for Nate [Diaz] to the Russians. Nate speaks in a very laid back way, he speaks with a lot of slang. If you’re not American, it may be hard to understand what he was saying. So I was just trying to translate for Diaz. But at the same time, me saying that Islam is an up-and-coming fighter, when it’s coming from me, I can say that. Not many people can say that, I can.”
The comment stemmed from a conversation where Diaz downplayed Makhachev’s achievements. Jones, agreeing with Diaz, suggested Makhachev’s resume lacks the depth of his own, igniting debate on social media. Posts described Jones’ remarks as “disrespectful” to Makhachev’s record, with others defending Jones’ perspective given his legendary career.
Jon Jones explains what he meant by calling Islam Makhachev ‘new to the sport’:
“What I was trying to do was translate for Nate [Diaz] to the Russians…
But at the same time, me saying that Islam is an up-and-coming fighter. When it’s coming from me, I can say that.”
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 20, 2025
From Light Heavyweight Dominance to Heavyweight Glory
Jon Jones began his MMA journey in 2008, quickly rising to become the youngest UFC light heavyweight champion in 2011 at age 23. With a 27-1 record, his only loss was a controversial disqualification against Matt Hamill in 2009, which he’s petitioning to overturn due to updated MMA rules. Jones defended the light heavyweight title eight times, defeating legends like Daniel Cormier, Rashad Evans, and Lyoto Machida, cementing his status as a top pound-for-pound fighter.
In 2023, Jones moved to heavyweight, capturing the vacant title with a first-round submission of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. He defended it against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November 2024, winning by knockout. Despite his accolades, Jones has faced criticism for limited activity, fighting only twice since 2020, and ongoing delays in a title unification bout with interim champion Tom Aspinall.
Islam Makhachev, with a 27-1 record, held the lightweight title from 2022 to 2025, defending it four times, a division record. His victories include Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira, and Alexander Volkanovski, earning him the top pound-for-pound spot until he vacated the belt in May 2025 to pursue welterweight gold against Jack Della Maddalena. Jones’ comments question Makhachev’s legacy compared to his own, a point he’s raised before about Makhachev and his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The controversy unfolded as Jones coaches opposite Diaz in Russia, a role that highlights his global influence. Russian supporters, fiercely loyal to Makhachev and Nurmagomedov, took issue with Jones’ remarks, viewing them as dismissive. Jones’ response underscores his confidence, asserting his right to comment given his 17-year career and two-division championship status.
As Jones negotiates a potential 2025 fight with Aspinall, his comments on Makhachev keep the pound-for-pound debate alive. Makhachev’s welterweight move adds intrigue, with Daniel Cormier defending his teammate’s record against Jones’ critiques.
