The manager of Islam Makhachev believes Dana White's attempt to downplay the UFC lightweight champion's status as pound-for-pound best is entirely down to his efforts to promote Jon Jones.
"Bones," a former light heavyweight kingpin who captured the heavyweight gold in his divisional debut last year, is set to make his long-awaited return to defend the belt in the UFC 309 main event next month.
While Jones and the UFC CEO haven't seen eye to eye in the past, White has been spreading stories of the heavyweight champ's accolades and his continued superiority on podcasts and during interviews throughout this year.
Among White's claims is the suggestion that the rankings panel have massively messed up by putting Makhachev in the pound-for-pound top spot over Jones.
During an interview with MMA Fighting, the Dagestani's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, provided his response to White's continued dismissal of Makhachev as being worthy of the P4P crown.
Listen, it’s the reason why Dana White is the pound-for-pound greatest promoter on this planet," Abdelaziz explained. "Jon Jones is fighting next month. He’s fighting a guy (in Stipe Miocic), he’s probably going to be -800 against. (This is) the best way to promote this fight, to promote Jon Jones.
Dana never promoted Jon Jones for some reason. But now he’s on Jon Jones’ wagon. Guess what? This promotes Jon Jones, too," Abdelaziz continued. "He can say he’s the greatest of all time. Islam Makhachev right now currently is the pound-for-pound greatest fighter in the world by far. It’s not even second place. But Dana’s Dana. People think he’s talking gospel.
White isn't along in disagreeing with Abdelaziz's take.
Makhachev's expected next challenger, in-form Russian-Armenian contender Arman Tsarukyan, also put Jones above the lightweight champ while discussing the pound-for-pound order in a recent interview with MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn.