Makhachev Fires Back At Jones After Legacy Claim

Islam Makhachev and Jon Jones traded sharp words this week over who stands taller in UFC history, with the lightweight champion questioning the legitimacy of Jones' accomplishments in light of repeated drug-testing failures.

Jones defended his record in a lengthy social media post, per Sherdog, arguing that USADA cleared him of intentional wrongdoing when trace amounts of a banned substance appeared in his system. He also reminded Makhachev of his lone career loss, a knockout defeat to Adriano Martins in 2015, and invoked praise he once received from Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov before taking a shot at Daniel Cormier.

Makhachev Questions Jones' Legacy

The Russian champion responded the next day with a pointed message. "Jon, I'm not trying to diminish your achievements in any way," Makhachev wrote, according to the Sherdog report. "But your whole life seems to be tied to breaking the rules one way or another, and somehow, you're never the one to be blamed."

Jones has not fought since stopping Stipe Miocic and subsequently vacating the heavyweight title, though he has left open the possibility of returning to the Octagon. Makhachev recently defended his welterweight title for the first time and broke Anderson Silva's record for most consecutive wins in UFC history.

The exchange marks one of the sharpest public feuds between current and former UFC champions in recent memory, with both men staking their claim to the top of the sport's all-time rankings.

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• Sherdog — Islam Makhachev, Jon Jones ignite a very personal UFC legacy feud