UFC CEO Dana White changed his mind on the pound-for-pound rankings ahead of UFC 313.
Dana White isn’t a fan of the UFC’s current rankings system. Months after threatening to replace it with an Artificial Intelligence-led substitute, White remains irritated by some of the decisions to move fighters up and down the ladder.
After months of proclaiming Jon Jones as the pound-for-pound king, to the ire of some media members and fans, White pivoted on that stance in favor of Islam Makhachev. Makhachev finished Renato Moicano at UFC 311, and during the post-fight press conference, White admitted Makhachev deserved the top spot over Jones.
Jones has the chance to reclaim Makhachev’s top spot if he returns later this year and defeats Tom Aspinall. Alex Pereira, who, as of this writing, sits at No. 3 in the pound-for-pound rankings, returns this weekend at UFC 313 against Magomed Ankalaev.
Dana White makes another stunning admission about the pound-for-pound rankings
If Pereira continues his history-making title reign and defeats Ankalaev this weekend, White is prepared to make another pivot in his pound-for-pound stance.
During a recent appearance on The Jim Rome Show, White was asked if Pereira would take the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings with a win at UFC 313.
“Probably [yes]. Probably you could call him the best, pound-for-pound,” White said of Pereira’s pound-for-pound case. “He’s fought down at a lower weight class and was a world champion, moved up a weight class and is a world champion now. Ankalaev is without a doubt the toughest test of his career. Pereira’s team always talks about how good his takedown defense is, ‘it’s better than people realize’, we’re going to find out how good it is this weekend.
“And if he rips through Ankalaev the way he has everybody else…this guy wants to move up to heavyweight and fight at heavyweight too, and I’m the one that’s actually holding him back on that.”
Pereira is interested in a move up to heavyweight to face the Jones vs. Aspinall winner, or whoever holds the belt when he’s ready to make the climb. A win at UFC 313 would allow Pereira to surpass Jones as the fastest to defend the light heavyweight championship four times (329 days).
Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones/Tom Aspinall winner is on the table after UFC 313
Chael Sonnen believes the Pereira vs. Aspinall fight talks will ramp up after UFC 313. But Jones, Aspinall, and the UFC are in active negotiations to unify the heavyweight belts, potentially as soon as this summer.
Pereira recently told Bloody Elbow that he won’t train together with Jones amidst speculation over a future superfight. Jones offered to train with Pereira during a run-in at UFC 306, but Pereira has since pivoted on that proposal.
Jones most recently defended his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November. Makhachev is expected to return later this year, potentially in a superfight against Ilia Topuria for his next title defense.
As the pound-for-pound debate rages on, don’t be surprised if White makes another pivot this weekend at UFC 313. Pereira has the chance to earn more than another title win against Ankalaev.
- READ MORE: Alex Pereira vs Tom Aspinall talks are ‘very likely’ to start soon according to a UFC legend