Islam Makhachev isn’t happy with his standing in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Makhachev, who currently ranks third in the promotion’s poll, took at shot at No. 1 Jon Jones, who regained the top spot when he returned from a three-year hiatus to beat Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. Makhachev will face Alexander Volkanovski on short notice in Saturday’s UFC 294 headliner after original foe Charles Oliveira withdrew from the event last week. Makhachev defeated Volkanovski, the reigning featherweight champion, at UFC 284 in February.
“This is what UFC champions have to do,” Makhachev said on Wednesday at a UFC media event “If you’re a real champion, you have to take fight, doesn’t matter how many days, who it’s going to be.