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’.
Khabib departed the sport of MMA after capturing the UFC lightweight title once again against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.
The Russian announced his retirement in the octagon following his second-round submission victory and he leaves UFC with a 29-0 record overall at just 32 years old.
Khabib, in his post match reactions, 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.’
But current No 1 pound-for-pound fighter Jon Jones quickly refuted Khabib’s request and issues a series of tweets defending his status.
Jones tweeted: ’15 world titles, numbers don’t lie’, following the 32-year-old’s comments in the Octogan.
15 world titles, numbers don’t lie.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) October 24, 2020
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.
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.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) October 24, 2020
Jones, who last tasted defeat in a DQ loss to Matt Hamill in 2009, vacated his UFC light heavyweight belt and announced his move to the heavyweight division earlier this year.
He last fought in a controversial points victory over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February.
