After his win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov announced that he was retiring from MMA. The Dagestani made one last wish however, to be placed at the top of the UFC pound-for-pound rankings.
Khabib Overtakes Jones to Top The UFC Pound-For-Pound Rankings
Khabib has had his wish fulfilled; he is now pound-for-pound the best male MMA fighter on the planet, according to the UFC’s ranking system. MMA Betz can confirm this after the new rankings were made official. With Saturday’s win, the 32 year old overtakes Jon Jones at the top of the list.
After submitting Gaethje in the second round this past weekend, Khabib claimed that he deserves the top spot on the P4P list.
“Put me on number one pound-for-pound fighter next week because I think I deserve this,” Khabib said in his Octagon interview. “Because I dominate with all my opponents. I’m undefeated. I think I deserve some respect.”
“Is It A Popularity Contest?”
As fans disputed who is their P4P number one, the argument moved on to the greatest of all time. After several big names stated that Khabib is the GOAT, including Daniel Cormier, Joe Rogan, Dana White and Sean Shelby, Jones took to social media to post several tweets, arguing his case for GOAT status.
The list, which is voted on by a panel consisting of international MMA media, has now been updated. On the new list, Khabib has moved up to first place ahead of Jones in second place. Gaethje has lost three places on the updated list, moving down to tenth place.
Men’s Pound-For-Pound Rankings:
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov
2. Jon Jones
3. Israel Adesanya
4. Stipe Miocic
5. Kamaru Usman
6. Alexander Volkanovski
7. Dustin Poirier
8. Max Holloway
9. Petr Yan
10. Justin Gaethje
11. Conor McGregor
12. Robert Whittaker
13. Tony Ferguson
14. Deiveson Figueiredo
15. Francis Ngannou
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