The UFC publishes an official Pound for Pound top 10. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who returns next month after a one year suspension, sits at the top of it:
1 Jon Jones
2 Demetrious Johnson
3 Conor McGregor
4 Dominick Cruz
5 Luke Rockhold
UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor was asked recently about Jones’ #1 ranking.
“He’s not,” said McGregor, as transcribed by Marc Raimondi for MMA Fighting. “I’m number one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. Maybe Jon and Mighty Mouse is 10. That’s what I feel.”
McGregor places himself at the peak because of his willingness to move weight classes. The featherweight champion had planned to fight Rafael Dos Anjos for the 155 belt, but when RDA injured his foot, a fight was made with Nate Diaz, and McGregor requested it be at 170. McGregor’s next plan is a fight for the 170 title vs. Robbie Lawler.
If successful, it would be entirely without precedent in the UFC. No fighter has ever held titles at two weights simultaneously, and only two, BJ Penn and Randy Couture, have held belts in two classes.
There will be no belt on the line Saturday, and McGregor says he may create one.
“I’m seriously considering making my own damn belt,” he said. “I’ll make my own belt and then I’ll decide what weight the fight is at. Why not? Why not? Who cares bout the belts? It’s the money fight, you know what I mean? This is the money fight that everyone wants. They should be chasing for it, trying to knock everyone out to get to it, not crying and complaining and saying I’m gonna wait until Uncle Dana picks up the phone call.”
“My body could change as I get older. I could become that solid block at 170. And if I’m that block at 170, I’m happy to go to 185. It would be like going from 145 to 155. I have no problem doing that. I’d go in and whoop anybody. No problem.”
“Fabricio pulled out and threw cards down the water. Jon pulled out and threw cards down the water. Nobody was willing to step up or down. I can’t answer that. You play it safe, you don’t take risks, you won’t go all the way. I get in, I take risks and that’s why I go all the way.”
