KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV has named Kamaru Usman as the best fighter in the world pound for pound - despite Jon Jones being the top UFC official ranking.
The Welterweight champion Usman is on a tear since he lost his second professional fight in April 2013. He has now won 18 consecutive fights.
Khabib Nurmagomedov named Kamaru Usman as the best fighter in UFC
Since Tyron Woodley's dethronement in March 2019, the Nigerian Nightmare has made huge strides, winning impressive victories over Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.
Although Usman is second on the UFC's pound for pound list, Nurmagomedov, a former lightweight king, believes the Nigerian-born American fighter is the current king of the MMA jungle.
He tweeted a picture of him with Usman on Sunday with the caption: "With the p4p Best Fighter in the World @usman84kg At #cytaka Event in Dubai."
UFC great Georges St-Pierre agrees with Nurmagomedov on the pound-for-pound rankings. He recently said to Bleacher Report that he believes Usman is right now the best pound-for-pound.
"In terms performance, I think that he is one of the top right now and he is an active competitor."
After his victory over Justin Gaethje's submission, Nurmagomedov, 32 was ranked first in the UFC's pound for pound rankings.
Jones quickly pointed out Jones' plethora title wins, which irked the future hall-of-famer.
The Russian claimed that he is still at the top of the pile and told ESPN: "For my, it's like, 30-40, 29-0 or 15-0. It's nothing."
"I fight and show the world. I was born out of nowhere and took everything.
"At that time, I was No. 1 pound for every pound fighter. Nobody can deny this.
"It wasn't Kamaru Usman. It wasn't Jon Jones. Jon Jones fights close fights against all these light heavyweights such as Ovince Saint Preux like Thiago, Anthony Smith, Dominick Remeyes.
"These guys, [Jones] displayed versus them very poor performances, and all that happened with doping.
"But what about you?" "I was mauling everyone."
Usman is currently preparing for a grudge fight with bitter rival Covington. He'll rematch him in the main event at UFC 268 in New York.
They will be reviving their rivalry at Madison Square Garden, November 6th. However, New York's impending vaccine mandate for indoor events could throw a wrench in the works.
Jones will make his return to the Octagon next year because of a pay dispute with UFC brass.
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