Rising UFC star Paddy Pimblett has added his voice to growing criticism regarding what many perceive as inconsistent policies in the promotion’s handling of championship belts.
The British fighter specifically called out what he sees as preferential treatment for heavyweight champion Jon Jones compared to recently dethroned lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
“If you’re making Islam vacate after four defenses, Jones needs to be stripped,” Pimblett stated bluntly. “If you’re making Islam vacate after four defenses, fighting people on short notice, you should let them time be double-jump.”
The controversy centers around Makhachev being required to vacate his lightweight belt after four successful title defenses while pursuing welterweight gold. Meanwhile, Jones has held the heavyweight championship since March 2023 with just one defense against Ciryl Gane, and no clear timeline for his next fight.
Critics point out that Jones has been inactive for extended periods during his career. After his light heavyweight title defense against Dominick Reyes in February 2020, Jones vacated that belt several months later when announcing his move to heavyweight. However, he didn’t compete again until winning the vacant heavyweight title against Gane more than three years later.
The situation has become more complicated with interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall‘s impressive performances. Many fans and fighters are calling for Jones to either defend against Aspinall or be stripped of the title, believing the division is being held up.
UFC President Dana White previously indicated a Jones vs. Stipe Miocic matchup was being planned before Jones withdrew due to injury. While reports suggest a Jones-Aspinall bout is in discussions, no official announcement has been made.
Social media has been flooded with reactions to Pimblett’s comments, with many fans agreeing with his assessment. One user tweeted, “#StripJonJones,” while another added, “Paddy says it how it is always.”
The debate highlights broader questions about consistency in UFC title policies. Double champions have faced different timelines for defending or vacating belts, creating confusion among fans about the standards applied.
