Islam Makhachev explains why he views Jon Jones' UFC win streak as invalid
UFC fighter Islam Makhachev has dismissed Jon Jones' record-breaking win streak, citing Jones' past failed drug tests as a reason to invalidate his achievements. The comments have sparked debate regarding the legitimacy of athletic records in the presence of performance-enhancing drug history.
Why it matters
The debate highlights the ongoing tension between athletic legacy and anti-doping compliance in professional sports.
Islam Makhachev rejects the notion that Jon Jones has a superior UFC run to his.
Makhachev (29-1 MMA, 18-1 UFC) defended his welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in August to set a new bar for most consecutive victories under the UFC banner at 17. He was previously tied with Anderson Silva, who held the mark for more than a decade at 16.
Contrarians would argue that the real record belongs to former heavyweight and light heavyweight Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC), who has gone 20 consecutive bouts without a loss dating back to December 2009. His winning streak was interrupted by a no contest in his July 2017 rematch with Daniel Cormier at UFC 214, which he initially won by knockout, but the result was overturned due to a failed drug test .
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