Arman Tsarukyan Says Islam Has Not Caught Jon Jones Yet
Arman Tsarukyan does not believe Islam Makhachev has closed the gap on Jon Jones among the all-time greats. The lightweight contender still wants to see the welterweight champion break Jones’ title-defense mark.
Speaking with Ushatayka, Tsarukyan was asked whether Makhachev already belongs on the same list as Jones. His first answer was blunt.
“No, how can he catch up,” Tsarukyan said. “If you look at the math.”
The math he pointed to is the defense count. Jones stacked far more title fights across two divisions before he left the sport.
Jones made 11 successful light heavyweight defenses across two reigns and later added a heavyweight title win over Ciryl Gane plus a defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. Guinness lists him with 16 UFC title-bout wins.
Makhachev’s ledger is shorter and newer. He made four lightweight defenses, vacated the 155-pound belt, took the welterweight title from Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322, and kept it against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330.
That August decision in Philadelphia was his seventh straight title-fight win and his 17th consecutive UFC victory, passing the streak once held by Anderson Silva. It was also only his first defense at 170 pounds.
The interviewer pushed back on the comparison. He noted that Makhachev already has a defense in a second weight class, and that the opponent was not a fading former champion.
Tsarukyan did not treat the Miocic fight as equal proof. He said there were still questions at the time about whether that heavyweight title shot should have been given.
“Everyone has their own opinion,” Tsarukyan said. “Nobody has broken Jon Jones’ record yet. I’ll be glad if Islam breaks the record.”
That last line is the story. Tsarukyan will not place Makhachev above Jones today, and he will cheer if the numbers finally move.
The two men already share Octagon history. Tsarukyan lost to Makhachev years ago and later challenged for the lightweight title. He has long ranked Jones ahead of his former opponent on the pound-for-pound list.
The debate is hotter this month because Makhachev used the same Ushatayka platform to question Jones’ win streak after failed tests. Jones answered on social media and pointed to the official rulings. Tsarukyan stayed on defenses, not doping.
That is a cleaner argument. Title defenses are public, dated, and easy to count. Jones still leads that column by a wide margin.
Makhachev’s case is quality and two-division work. He beat Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski twice, Della Maddalena, and Garry while building the longest active UFC win streak.
Tsarukyan is not denying that run. He is saying it has not yet matched the volume Jones posted at 205 and 265 pounds.
Jones vacated the heavyweight title in 2025 and has not fought since. Makhachev is the active two-division champion and the current measuring stick at 170.
The champion wants another defense before Ramadan begins in February 2027. Carlos Prates and Michael Morales are the names he has flagged as the most serious threats.
Every extra defense at welterweight moves the math Tsarukyan cited. It does not automatically rewrite the all-time list.
Tsarukyan left the door open on purpose. He will not crown Makhachev over Jones on today’s numbers, and he will be glad if those numbers change.
The next title fight is the only way that change happens. Until the UFC books it, Jones still owns the record Tsarukyan refuses to hand over.