Islam Makhachev slams Craig Jones on X

Recently crowned UFC welterweight champion, 30-year-old Islam Makhachev, has reopened the statement implicit his past of rivalry with Australian combatant Craig Jones. Ahead of UFC 322, Jack Della Maddalena trained with Jones to amended his grappling skills, but it didn't assistance him successful his combat against Makhachev. The experienced Russian dominated each 5 rounds, and the Australian mislaid his welterweight rubric successful his archetypal defense.

Makhachev took to X, commenting that the lone mode to marque Australia large again is to occurrence Jones. "Joking aside, Craig Jones needs to beryllium fired. We request to marque Australia large again!", wrote the two-time UFC champion. Craig was antecedently a subordinate of Alexander Volkanovski's team, but that didn't assistance overmuch successful his 2 fights against Makhachev. Jones has been ridiculing sambo and Dagestani wrestlers for years, which is wherefore Makhachev had a fewer "tips" for him aft UFC 322.

Manager comments

Makhachev's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, besides harshly criticized Craig after UFC 322. "Hey Australia; deport Craig. He makes fighters lose. He's nary bully for MMA. JDM could person been a batch amended if helium tried to get up, but each those buggy chokes and different moves didn't work. He's a jiu-jitsu feline trying to enactment applicable utilizing MMA fighters," Abdelaziz told Fox Sports Australia.

Criticism and consequences

This prodding comes aft Mahachev had already defeated Alexander Volkanovsky successful 2 fights earlier taking connected Della Maddalena. Australian Jones, though included successful Volkanovski's grooming team, had nary power connected the result of those fights. The disapproval and proposal from Mahachev and his manager made it wide that Craig lacks the prime for top-level MMA and that his beingness could hinder the fighters helium works with.

Makhachev and his squad present proceed to absorption connected the upcoming challenges successful the UFC, portion Australia and fans of the MMA country travel each improvement with interest. It is wide that conflicts betwixt apical fighters and their coaches often reverberate acold beyond the combat itself, affecting reputations and strategical decisions successful the sport.