Jon Jones has words of high praise for welterweight kingpin Islam Makhachev. “Bones” also explained why he’d beat Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330. <\/p>\n
Islam Makhachev has received plaudits from MMA legend Jon Jones<\/a>. A former UFC<\/a> light heavyweight and heavyweight champion, Jones has labeled his fellow two-division UFC champ as one of the greatest fighters.\u00a0<\/p>\n Additionally, “Bones” predicted that Makhachev would emerge victorious against Ian Machado Garry, whilst highlighting the reason behind his pick.\u00a0<\/p>\n Jon Jones deems himself and Islam Makhachev<\/a> as G.O.A.T.s, picks Makhachev over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330<\/p>\n Jon Jones retired from MMA in 2025 but later announced that he’s re-entered the UFC’s drug testing pool. The 38-year-old has consistently hinted that he’s open to an MMA return in the UFC’s famed octagon.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the meantime, he’s been involved as a guest of honor and brand ambassador for multiple combat sports organizations. That includes the Dirty Boxing Championship (DBX) promotion that he co-owns with fellow UFC veteran Mike Perry, as well as his association with IBA (International Boxing Association) Bare Knuckle.\u00a0<\/p>\n Jones recently indicated that he’s headed to Moscow, Russia<\/a>. The American fighter landed in Russia ahead of IBA Bare Knuckle 5 and was interviewed by Russian media.<\/p>\n Well, Sport24ru requested him for his take on the much-awaited title fight between UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry.<\/p>\n Jones picked Makhachev, a former UFC lightweight champion, to win due to his wrestling background.\u00a0<\/p>\n Having himself started with wrestling as his MMA base, Jones stated, “I’m going with Islam. Because he has a wrestling background. And it’s very hard to — it’s hard to beat wrestlers. So Islam.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Incidentally, certain sections of the combat sports realm have lately drawn parallels between Jones’s and Makhachev’s respective standings as the MMA G.O.A.T.s (Greatest Of All Time).<\/p>\n During his aforementioned interview in Russia, Jones suggested that he and Makhachev could be regarded as the G.O.A.T.s of MMA. He said:\u00a0<\/p>\n “He (Islam Makhachev) may just be one of the greatest fighters in the world. Right now, it’s me and maybe him. So I encourage him to keep going.”\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Watch Jon Jones address Islam Makhachev’s upcoming fight against Ian Machado Garry and laud Makhachev in the video below:\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Islam Makhachev looks to make his first UFC welterweight title defense, while Jon Jones’s MMA future remains shrouded in mystery<\/p>\n Dagestan’s Islam Makhachev has, coincidentally, been a longtime training partner of ex-UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.<\/p>\n Nurmagomedov and Cormier, both retired MMA stars, are often brought up in fan debates and discussions regarding the MMA G.O.A.T. conversations.<\/p>\n That aside, some believe Makhachev still has a long way to go before being hailed as the greatest, as he looks to notch his first defense of the welterweight belt against Ian Machado Garry<\/a> at UFC 330 on August 15.\u00a0<\/p>\n Furthermore, there’s still an air of mystery shrouding Jon Jones’s MMA future; his most recent fight having transpired back in November 2024.<\/p>\n