Jon Jones Fires Back at Islam Makhachev Over PED Jabs

Jon Jones lashed out at Islam Makhachev on social media after the UFC lightweight champion questioned whether Jones's fight streak should count given his past doping suspensions.

The back-and-forth started when Makhachev was asked about MMA's GOAT conversation. Makhachev said he thinks Jones's streak isn't considered valid because he went into a fight while on PEDs and won, adding that a new count should have started from there. Still, Makhachev called Jones one of the greatest, maybe even the greatest.

That did not sit well with Jones. Jones posted on social media that he wanted to start the week by dispelling rumors spread by people chasing him, arguing that if people believe USADA found a picogram in his system, they also have to believe USADA's finding that it was not performance enhancing or intentional. He went on to say his hand got raised every time he stepped in the octagon, brought up that Daniel Cormier's own coach once called him "a gift from God," and needled Cormier directly, writing "I kicked you in the head LOL keep telling yourself it was steroids."

Jones closed by telling his critics to tell themselves whatever they need to sleep better, adding that it's lonely at the top and that he hopes to see Makhachev up there one day.

What Makhachev Actually Said About Jones

Islam Makhachev did not dodge the doping history, but he also did not try to strip Jones of his standing entirely. Makhachev said he is not denying Jones is one of the greatest athletes in history, but that Jones was caught doping twice and that's why some don't consider his run legitimate. When Jones responded publicly, Makhachev did not let it go. He wrote back that he wasn't trying to diminish Jones's achievements, but that Jones's whole life seems to be tied to breaking rules one way or another, and somehow he's never the one blamed.

The Doping History Jones Left Out

Jones's rebuttal leaned entirely on the picogram Turinabol readings that USADA has attributed to past use rather than active doping. But that framing skips over the rest of his file. Jones has multiple positive drug tests on record: cocaine in 2014, clomiphene and letrozole in 2016, and Turinabol in 2017, along with multiple positive tests for what's been called "pulsing" Turinabol since then. He was suspended over the 2017 finding and is not currently being punished for the recurring trace amounts, but the clomiphene case and the original suspension are part of the record no matter how the picogram numbers get explained away now.

There is no fight or shared card on the table between these two, and nothing here changes either man's standing in the UFC. Jones remains retired from active competition with his light heavyweight legacy intact on paper, while Makhachev continues building his own case as the promotion's top pound-for-pound name. This is a legacy argument playing out in public, not a lead-up to a booking, and fight fans should treat it that way rather than reading a matchup into it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Islam Makhachev say about Jon Jones and PEDs?

Islam Makhachev said Jon Jones is one of the greatest athletes ever but argued his win streak should not fully count because he was caught doping twice, including once while actively competing.

How did Jon Jones respond to Islam Makhachev's doping comments?

Jon Jones posted on social media defending his record, pointing to USADA's finding that a trace picogram reading was not performance enhancing, and also took shots at Daniel Cormier in the process.

Is a fight between Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev being planned?

No, this is a public war of words over the MMA GOAT debate, not the lead-up to any scheduled fight between Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev.