In his latest Instagram story, Dana White tagged Mark Zuckerberg and wrote, I have to get rid of these clowns @zuck. Let’s get this AI deal done ASAP! – and because of this, the UFC head honcho and the UFC pound-for-pound rankings are once again at the center of attention. With the conclusion of UFC 309, held at the iconic Madison Square Garden last week—marking the promotion’s 8th outing at the venue—Jon Jones successfully defended his heavyweight title for the first time against former two-time champion Stipe Miocic. The grueling three-round battle ended with a spectacular spinning back kick finish from Jones. However, the impressive victory wasn’t enough to reclaim the top spot in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings.

In the latest update, Jones landed at #2, pushing Alex Pereira down to #3, while Islam Makhachev retained the #1 position. This decision stirred controversy, especially given Dana White’s consistent vocal support for Jones as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport.

White appears to be moving quickly to finalize a deal with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, hinting at replacing the traditional human ranking system with an AI-driven approach. This suggests a strong desire to avoid similar disputes in the future.

Amid the uproar over the rankings, Islam Makhachev and Team Khabib’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, added fuel to the fire with a celebratory tweet about Makhachev’s position at the top. Mocking critics, Abdelaziz posted, “Can only be one king 👑 @MAKHACHEVMMA 👑👑 (Islam Makhachev).” The UFC pound-for-pound rankings, determined by a panel of specialists, recognize the top fighters across all weight classes. To qualify, a fighter must have competed or had a fight officially booked within the past calendar year.

Now, all eyes are on Dana White and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg as fans wonder when they will finalize the proposed AI-driven system. The big question remains: Could AI crown Jon Jones the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings? Only time will tell. For now, commentator Jon Anik holds a different opinion on the matter.

Jon Anik’s pick for No. 1 Pound-for-Pound Fighter

Other than Joe Rogan, Jon Anik is the second most popular UFC commentator, often coming next in terms of popularity. His decades of experience in the MMA industry have sharpened his analytical skills. He is among the few who believe Jon Jones should not be at the top of the UFC pound-for-pound list. Instead, Anik has recently voiced strong support for UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, challenging Dana White’s view that Jones should be ranked higher than Makhachev.

Anik stands firm on the UFC’s current pound-for-pound rankings, pointing out Jones’ absence from the Octagon since last year, after winning the heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane. Since then, Jones has been on hiatus, which he ended with his latest comeback. Speaking to Kevin Iole, Jon Anik expressed his support for Islam Makhachev in the pound-for-pound rankings.

Anik said: “Islam Makhachev’s ability to find that takedown and submission in his last title defense against Dustin Poirier is about as good as it gets. For me, he was the guy going in, so I don’t know that he loses that perch for me. I’ve always put 155 pounds on a pedestal. I do believe 155 pounds is the deepest division.”

What’s your take on the latest UFC pound-for-pound rankings? Do you think Jon Jones’ performance against the 42-year-old Stipe Miocic was enough for him to claim the #1 spot, or is Islam Makhachev rightfully holding the top position? Drop your opinion below.