Reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has found a surprise assistant in UFC legend Georges St-Pierre. After Islam Makhachev’s stunning victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 and his third successful title defense, UFC CEO Dana White stirred controversy by saying, “Can anyone say Islam is the fighter the best in the world pound-for-pound while Jon Jones is still f*cking. cking fighting is nuts …” The statement sparked heated debate within the MMA community. While John Jones praised his support for White, Georges St-Pierre has strongly supported Islam Makhachev in the P4P status debate.
Georges St-pierre Supports Makhachev’s P4P Position
After speaking with trainer Firas Zahabi, former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre shared his thoughts on the matter. When Zahabi asked, “Tell me what you think of Islam Makhachev, can he ever command Georges St. Makhachev? Pierre some shoes for?” St-Pierre replied, “She is fantastic, I think she is the best P4P now since her last few roles”.
St-Pierre highlighted Islam Makhachev’s resilience, “An amazing cardiac performance, even just amazing, because he had cut his chest badly and Poirier gave him a tough time and pushed the race to the edge and that’s going to make Makhachev even better because these are the fights that make you grow.”
Georges St-Pierre pointed to Islam Makhachev’s recent performances, including Poirier’s fifth-round submission, as proof of his P-4P. Makhachev has been dominant with seven finishes in his last eight fights since 2021. By contrast, Jon Jones has only fought once since, securing the undisputed heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane with a first-round finish at UFC 285 a year ago last year.
The Constant P4P Debate
The controversy surrounding the P4P movement reflects the dynamics of MMA, with fighters constantly pushing the boundaries of excellence. Islam Makhachev’s desire for a second title adds more fuel to this discussion. However, according to reigning welterweight champion Leon Edwards, Islam Makhachev still has a lot to prove in his division before aiming for the 170-pound belt.
Leon Edwards Responds To Makhachev’s ‘Champ-champ’ Wish
At the UFC 302 post-fight press conference, Islam Makhachev expressed his desire to win a second belt, “If you want a bigger legacy, get a second belt It is my opinion…” However, the welterweight king who incumbent Leon Edwards believes Islam Makhachev should focus on his current division. In an interview with the source, Edwards said, “He (kept) a light first, really light, you know. I think he has a few lighter things to go before he can even think about moving up. Like I said, if we both manage this, why not later in the future?”
Edwards is set to defend his welterweight crown against Belal Muhammad at UFC 304. The outcome of this fight could affect Islam Makhachev’s plans to move up the division. However, with the help of legends like Georges St-Pierre and his exceptional performance, Islam Makhachev is well on his way to solidifying his legacy as P4P’s no.1 fighter and could earn a spot on the ‘GOAT’ list in the 1990s.
