Former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has fired shots at renowned grappling coach Craig Jones, questioning his impact on mixed martial arts stars and issuing an unusual challenge in the process.
In a recent interview with Daniel Cormier, Makhachev was asked about Jones working with Alexander Volkanovski, who has found success defending takedowns. He was also asked about Jones helping other stars like Jack Della Maddalena prepare for matchups.
The Dagestani star didn’t hold back in his assessment of the Australian grappling phenom’s influence on MMA athletes.
“Let’s make this Craig one fight an MMA fight,” Makhachev said, calling for the submission specialist to step into the octagon himself.
The champion went on to challenge the narrative that bringing in high-level specialists like Jones for training camps leads to significant improvements.
“Like he helped me to improve something, improve something. It’s not working like this,” Makhachev explained.
According to the former lightweight titleholder, short-term coaching arrangements don’t translate to meaningful advantages inside the cage. “When you bring someone for one camp or for two camps, I just give you a good example,” he continued, before pointing to a recent high-profile bout.
Makhachev referenced the middleweight clash between Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus Du Plessis as evidence for his theory. “I told you yesterday, what about Khamzat fighting with Du Plessis? I think Du Plessis brings many coaches, many partners, but it’s not helping,” he stated bluntly.
The champion’s message was clear: accumulating big names in your corner doesn’t guarantee success. “It’s not working like this,” he reiterated.
Even during the UFC 322 press conference, Makhachev didn’t hold back when asked again about Craig Jones and his influence on MMA stars. With a hint of sarcasm, he remarked, “Yeah, he’s a coach. He helped Volk a lot.”
Volkanovski has already faced Makhachev twice and lost twice at UFC 284 and 294.Makhachev doubled down on his belief that Jones’ impact on stars fighters like Alexander Volkanovski is overstated.
Jones, who has become one of the most sought-after grappling coaches in combat sports, has worked with several elite MMA star in recent years. His reputation as a submission wizard and innovative instructor has made him a popular choice for fighters looking to shore up their ground game.
However, Makhachev’s comments suggest that the champion believes Jones’ actual impact on fight outcomes may be overstated, particularly when brought in for limited camp durations rather than as a long-term training partner.
