Conor McGregor sheds light on Islam Makhachev’s steroid scandal after UFC champ surpasses Jon Jones in P4P rankings

Conor McGregor, known for his quick wit, has jabbed at a Russian lightweight again. McGregor’s reaction was swift and cutting as Islam Makhachev surpassed Jon Jones at the top pound-for-pound rankings.

McGregor brought in Makhavhev having been allegedly accused of doping. Makhachev is not the first Russian targeted by McGregor. Khabib Nurmagomedov was the first Russian to be brutally trolled by McGregor and it resulted in a nasty escalation after the fight.

Conor McGregor slams Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev’s ascent to the number one spot on the pound-for-pound rankings is due to his amazing first-round TKO victory over fellow top-3 pound-for-pound fighter, Alex Volkanovski. Makhachev’s performance in the UFC has been near-flawless. His victory over Charles Oliveira for the vacant title at UFC 280 was followed by his defeat of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284.

However, Conor McGregor was not impressed and took to social media to comment on the new rankings. His now-deleted tweet read, “KO’d unconscious and caught on steroids. MMA’s current P4P is number one. What a sport.” This snipe from the sidelines is emblematic of the relationship tainted by McGregor’s historic rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Conor McGregor has been out of competition since suffering a leg injury in 2021 and is eyeing a comeback at UFC 300 against Michael Chandler. With plans to return to the UFC early next year, his opinion on Makhachev’s ranking has added another layer to the anticipation of his return. Daniel Cormier, a teammate of Makhachev had earlier voiced his interest in Makhachev fighting McGregor.

UFC P4P rankings

The UFC pound-for-pound rankings were recently updated and it has a pleasant surprise. Islam Makhachev took Jon Jones’ position as the pound-for-pound king. Jones was the pound-for-pound king when he was the reigning light heavyweight champion. When Jones took a hiatus, Kamaru Usman became the pound-for-pound number one.

Usman’s shocking loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 meant that Alexander Volkanovski took the number one spot. Volkanovski kept his status even after a loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 284. It was due to the fight being very close. However, Jon Jones returned to win the heavyweight title at UFC 285 and solidified his status as the number one.

Now with Islam Makhachev destroying Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294 in what was their second meeting, he has elevated his standing in the promotion’s pound-for-pound rankings. With this achievement, Makhachev joined Khabib Nurmagomedov as the only two athletes to replace an active Jon Jones below number one.

What are your thoughts on the new rankings? Do comment below.