"Elite rage baiting" - Fans react as Islam Makhachev shares his top 5 UFC pound-for-pound list

It appears Islam Makhachev disagrees with the UFC's current pound-for-pound list and hopes to change it with a win at UFC 322. Nevertheless, earlier this week, the 34-year-old shared his take on how the list should look, garnering mixed reactions from the fandom.

In the lead-up to his next fight, Makhachev went on Adin Ross' live stream, during which the Kick streamer asked him if he wished to see any change in the UFC. The Dagestani who lost his pound-for-pound No.1 spot to Ilia Topuria earlier this year was quick to answer, noting his displeasure with the list:

"I'll change the pound-for-pound rankings. Back to No.1, but this week, we will change."

The former long-reigning lightweight champion then shared his take on how the list should look, sharing his top 5:

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"Myself, this guy [Alexandre] Pantoja, and [Tom] Aspinall, [Alexander] Volkanovski for sure, and [Ilia] Topuria."

Check out Islam Makhachev's comments below:

Suffice it to say, Makhachev's list has fight fans divided, prompting many to take to social media, sharing their thoughts.

@n0ctisGrap3 wrote:

"Elite rage baiting."

@roccoramzy chimed in:

"Pantoja appreciation love to see it."

@fcgrizzle2 commented:

"Where is Meraby [Merab Dvalishvili]? 🤣 I love Islam, but this is a dumba** list and shows he is still bu** hurt about that Umar [Nurmagomedov] loss."

@Alfie_Solomons_ noted:

"Ilia behind the guy he knocked? Sure thing, buddy."

Check out a few more responses below:

Screenshots courtesy: @ChampRDS on X

Makhachev will next be seen at UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden in New York, where he'll face reigning champion Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title.

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Islam Makhachev calls Jack Della Maddalena his toughest match-up

With UFC 322 under a week away, Islam Makahchev has echoed the sentiment Khabib Nurmagomedov and his coach, Javier Mendez, have already expressed: Jack Della Maddalena is his toughest test yet.

During an interview with his former AKA teammate Josh Thomson, the former pound-for-pound king shared a detailed analysis of Della Maddalena's strengths and how he was approaching the fight:

"Honestly, this is one of the hardest fights for me, because he is big, he is good everywhere. Maybe he doesn't have good wrestling defence, but his grappling is good, he defends, [and] gets up from the grappling very well. That's why I prepare myself for anything. I can strike with him, I can wrestle with him, grapple with him, but I know he is also training hard for me... If he stops my wrestling, I'm going to try again; if it doesn't happen, I'll strike with him." [4:00 minutes into the interview]

Edited by Ujwal Jain