As 2024 draws to a close, one topic that continues to spark intense debates within the MMA community is the UFC’s pound-for-pound list. After a minor shake-up last month, the rankings remain largely unchanged, with Islam Makhachev still holding the No. 1 rank. Jon Jones and Alex Pereira have swapped spots, with Jones now at No. 2 and Pereira at No. 3.

However, Dana White’s desire to see Jones at the top did not come to fruition. Frustrated with the current human-managed ranking system, the UFC boss recently shared his plan to transition to AI-powered rankings with the assistance of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. “I have to get rid of these clowns,” White said, although critics, including MMA pundits and Team Khabib, have dismissed the idea as unlikely to happen anytime soon.

Arman Tsarukyan recently expressed his support for Dana White’s stance on the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings during an interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto. “In my opinion, he’s [Islam] number two pound-for-pound because number one is Jon Jones for me personally,” Tsarukyan stated. “So, he’s [Islam] number two, but for sure, in 155, he’s pound-for-pound.” Tsarukyan’s comments align with those of other fighters backing the head honcho’s perspective, including former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.

Sterling echoed similar views last summer, saying, “I think pound-for-pound, the way I understand it is, if weight wasn’t a factor, size wasn’t a factor, skill-for-skill, who would be the best guy? And I agree, I think it’s Jon Jones.” To be considered the top pound-for-pound fighter, a fighter must be well-rounded and ideally have competed at least once in the past year.

However, Jones has had some time off, which has caused him to slip from the spotlight in the eyes of some fans. On the other hand, Makhachev has remained active. Amidst the ongoing debate, a UFC legend has shared his perspective on the latest pound-for-pound ranking update.

Who does Georges St-Pierre consider #1 P4P: Islam Makhachev or Jon Jones?

UFC lightweight king Islam Makhachev received high praise earlier this year from one of the sport’s greatest, Georges St-Pierre. With decades of experience and an exceptional fighting IQ, ‘Rush’ weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC: Jon Jones or Islam Makhachev?

St-Pierre firmly backed the Dagestani native, who is on his path to becoming one of the sport’s all-time greats. With an impressive winning streak dating back to 2016 and holding the title since 2022, Makhachev has successfully defended it three times. Earlier this year, St-Pierre gave his take, weighing in on Dana White’s pound-for-pound rankings. Speaking with coach Firas Zahabi on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel, GSP said, “I think right now he’s [Islam] the best pound-for-pound fighter, because of his last few performances. Just amazing. An amazing showcase of heart, too.”

What are your thoughts on Arman Tsarukyan’s recent claims? Do you believe his statement is sincere, or is he simply stoking the rivalry with Islam Makhachev and Team Khabib to generate hype for his upcoming fight at UFC 311 next year? Share your opinion below.