Newly minted UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev was keen to remind Jon Jones of his past controversies, after ‘Bones’ gloated in light of Alex Pereira losing his belt at UFC 313.
Jones took to Instagram after Pereira’s loss at UFC 313 to brag about his title defence record. Formerly the sunshine heavyweight king, Jones accrued 11 light heavyweight defences, and now one heavyweight defence, marred only by vacating his belts twice as a consequence of cheating and being arrested.
Jones remarked ‘small flex,’ about having more title defences than every other male champion combined, which Ankalaev took umbrage to.
Magomed Ankalaev slams ‘big cheater’ Jon Jones for mocking ‘clean’ UFC champions
Responding to Jones’ comments in a post on X on March 10, Ankalaev—or his manager running his account—sent a fiery message to the controversial champion.
“Yes, but all these champions are clean he’s [Jones] a giant cheater everyone knows this,” Ankalaev wrote.
Jones is usually snubbed from GOAT conversations as a consequence of his controversies inside and outdoors the Octagon. He was convicted of a hit-and-run incident in 2015, where he was stripped of his title and suspended. He was suspended and stripped of his interim title in 2016 after a possible anti-doping violation, and nonetheless in 2017 after failing his drug test against Daniel Cormier of their rematch.
Magomed Ankalaev would consider fighting at heavyweight
An Ankalaev vs. Jones fight isn’t off the cards, as Ankalaev registered his interest in fighting at heavyweight. Before this, nevertheless, Ankalaev desires to silence any doubters with an Alex Pereira rematch.
“I feel now we want to shut the questions on this division. In the event that they need a rematch we will try this but there are other guys too. I need to shut the questions here after which I feel we will make big fights at heavyweight.”
Since Pereira did an excellent job cleansing out his division, loads of fresh matchups will likely be made with Ankalaev, including: Jiri Prochazka, Khalil Rountree Jr. and the winner of Carlos Ulberg vs. Jan Blachowicz.
