Islam Makhachev just secured his 17th consecutive win last month, defending his UFC title against Ian Machado Garry and absolutely blowing past former middleweight champion Anderson Silva’s record of 16 straight victories. Now, with that kind of momentum, Makhachev is firing shots directly at former UFC champion Jon Jones, claiming Jones’ GOAT status is tainted and his 20-fight win streak isn’t even valid. Talk about a heavyweight verbal smackdown!
Makhachev’s Knockout Punch: The Doping Allegations
Makhachev isn’t pulling any punches when he talks about Jones. He told Russian outlet Ushatayka that he’s not denying Jones is one of history’s greatest athletes, but there’s a huge asterisk. Makhachev flat-out stated that Jones “was caught doping twice,” and because of that, his streak can’t be considered legitimate. The whole hubbub, according to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, started with Jones’ 2017 no-contest against Daniel Cormier, which came after a failed drug test by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Makhachev’s take is brutal: “Because he went into a fight while on PEDs and won, that’s where a new count should have started.” It’s a direct challenge to the very foundation of Jones’ legendary run.
Jones Claps Back, Citing Independent Findings
Of course, Jones was never one to let a call-out go unanswered, even after retiring from the UFC over a year ago. He quickly took to social media to “dispel the rumors” about his PED usage. Jones reminded everyone that after testing positive for trace amounts of steroid metabolites in that 2017 matchup against Cormier, which he had initially won, he was indeed fined and suspended for 15 months. However, there’s a crucial detail Jones brings up: an independent arbitrator later concluded that Jones unknowingly ingested the substance and it didn’t enhance his performance. That’s a pretty big distinction, right? Jones clearly feels this finding clears his name, at least regarding the intent.
The GOAT Debate Heats Up as Makhachev Dominates
Despite Jones’ explanation, Makhachev wasn’t backing down. He tweeted that Jones’ “troubles both in and out of the Octagon created a questionable legacy.” Ouch! This isn’t just about a single drug test; Makhachev is suggesting a pattern of behavior that casts a shadow over Jones’ entire career. It’s a wild time to be a fight fan, watching this debate unfold online. While Jones is in retirement, Makhachev’s current run of dominance is absolutely undeniable. He’s building a legacy of his own, and with that kind of record, he’s certainly putting himself in a position to eventually take over as the UFC’s GOAT. Is this just talk, or could Makhachev’s incredible run force Jones to reconsider his retirement if he wants to truly silence these doubts? That’s the real question.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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