Oct 22, 2022; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Islam Makhachev (blue gloves) before his fight against Charles Oliveira during UFC 280 at Etihad Arena. Mandatory Credit: Craig Kidwell-USA TODAY Sports

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Islam Makhachev Shares Honest Reaction To Jon Jones’ Retirement And Its Impact On His Legacy

Islam Makhachev hails Jon Jones; doesn't feel that he needed to fight Tom Aspinall to secure his legacy as the GOAT!

Oct 22, 2022; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Islam Makhachev (blue gloves) before his fight against Charles Oliveira during UFC 280 at Etihad Arena. Mandatory Credit: Craig Kidwell-USA TODAY Sports

MMA fans never stops talking about legends and legacies. Even fighters constantly debate who deserves the title of greatest of all time. These conversations get even more heated when champions decide to hang up their gloves. The retirement of any major fighter always sparks endless discussions about what they accomplished and what they left unfinished.

Jon Jones recently announced his retirement from the UFC after years of being considered the GOAT. His decision came months after defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, successfully defending his heavyweight title. But Jones left many fans frustrated because he chose not to fight Tom Aspinall, the interim heavyweight champion who many believed deserved a shot at unifying the titles. This controversial exit has divided the MMA community, with some supporting Jones’ choice and others calling it a disappointing end to a legendary career.

Islam Makhachev Backs Jones As A Legend

Islam Makhachev didn’t hesitate to defend Jon Jones against his critics. The UFC lightweight champion made it clear that he believes Jones has already proven everything he needs to prove. According to Makhachev, Jones doesn’t need to fight Tom Aspinall because his status as the greatest fighter of all time is already set in stone.

“He [Jon Jones] don’t have to [fight Tom Aspinall]. He did all he had to do in MMA.”

Islam Makhachev says that not fighting Tom Aspinall does not affect Jon Jones' legacy 👀 pic.twitter.com/CXPRACtDxQ
— MMA On Point (@OnPointMMA) June 25, 2025

Makhachev’s support carries serious weight in the MMA world. As the current lightweight king (till Ilia vs Charles happens), he understands the pressures that come with being at the top. He knows how demanding fans can be and how they always want more from their favorite fighters. But Islam sees things differently when it comes to Jones. He believes that after everything Jones has accomplished over his career, the former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion has earned the right to retire on his own terms.

The Dagestani fighter pointed out that Jones has already defeated the best fighters from two different weight classes. His resume includes victories over legends like Daniel Cormier, Alexander Gustafsson, and Stipe Miocic. Makhachev argues that asking Jones to prove himself one more time against Aspinall is simply unnecessary. The man has already done enough to secure his place in history.

Makhachev’s mentor and former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov also showed his support for Jones’ decision. Khabib congratulated Jones on his retirement and praised his legendary career. This endorsement from ‘The Eagle” adds even more credibility to the argument that Jones deserves to leave the sport without any more obligations. When two of the most respected fighters from Dagestan both support your retirement, it says something about your legacy!

(Image Credit: Craig Kidwell – Imagn Images)

Islam Makhachev

Jon Jones

Tom Aspinall

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!