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MMA·ANALYSIS·September 17, 2026 09:09 PM ET

Makhachev rebukes Jones over rule-breaking UFC legacy

Latest shot in their revived GOAT feud

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 181 min read
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What happened: Islam Makhachev publicly criticized Jon Jones over rule-breaking issues tied to Jones' UFC career, extending the pair's latest war of words. MMA reaction around the exchange cast it as Makhachev pushing back on Jones' defense of his standing in the sport's GOAT debate.

Why it matters: The dispute keeps two of the UFC's biggest names in the same conversation even without a fight announcement attached. It also adds another turn to a week of public sniping between the two, including their recent doping-jab exchange.

What to watch: Watch for Jones to answer again or for UFC figures to weigh in if the argument keeps building. The next real step would be any comment that ties the feud to an actual booking rather than another round of rhetoric.

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