Jon Jones is firmly backing Islam Makhachev ahead of his upcoming title defense against Ian Machado Garry in the main event of UFC 330.
Makhachev is set to make his first 170-pound title defense on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, where he meets Garry in a bout that oddsmakers currently see leaning heavily in the champion’s favor.
Jones made his pick clear, saying, "I'm going with Islam because he has a wrestling background, and it's very hard to beat wrestlers," before adding, "He may just be one of the greatest fighters in the world. Right now, it's me and maybe him, so I encourage him to keep going."
If Makhachev defeats Garry, he can break the UFC record for most consecutive wins. He enters UFC 330 with a 28-1 professional record, including 17-1 in the UFC, while Garry comes in at 17-1 in MMA and 10-1 in the UFC. Jon Jones, a former two-division UFC champion, has now publicly aligned himself with the reigning welterweight titleholder ahead of one of the biggest fights of the year.
