Javier Mendez says a blemish on Jon Jones’ past eliminates him from the GOAT conversation.
Many see the former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion as the leading name when it comes to deciding who is the greatest of all time in mixed martial arts.
In a recent Bloody Elbow poll as part of TalkingPoints, fans voted for Jones as the GOAT over Georges St-Pierre, who got the better of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Demetrious Johnson to secure second place.
In the eyes of Mendez, though, third is two spots too low for Nurmagomedov, whom the renowned coach believes has to be above ‘Bones’ due to a big controversy.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov’s GOAT claim backed by coach Javier Mendez
Nurmagomedov retired after beating Justin Gaethje in 2020. The Dagestani ended his career with a perfect 29-0 professional record after three successful UFC lightweight title defenses.
Some believe ‘The Eagle’ called it quits too soon to be considered a leading contender for GOAT status, but coach Mendez disagrees.
During an appearance on The Ahmad Mahmood Show, the American Kickboxing Academy trainer seemingly used Jones’ failed drug tests to disqualify him from the conversation and crown Nurmagomedov as the greatest.
“The GOAT for me is Khabib, and I would put Jon Jones in that category, but I can’t,” Mendez said.
“If you’re caught doing something you shouldn’t have been doing, how can you be considered at the top of the league? This is a true sport, and in a true sport you cannot put that person ahead.
“How many people have won Olympic gold medals and then they find out they cheated and got the medals taken away from them?”
Khabib might not go down as the greatest Nurmagomedov
While Mendez continues to plead his former student’s case as the MMA GOAT, both he and ‘The Eagle’ plan on pushing another name into the debate soon enough.
Usman Nurmagomedov choked out Alfie Davis at last Saturday’s PFL event in Dubai, marking his first defense of the promotion’s lightweight title.
Speaking ahead of the event, Khabib revealed he’s planning GOAT status for his cousin down the line.
“Our goal is to make him best fighter, (pound-for-pound) fighter, and best to ever do this,” the former UFC champion explained.
“Me and Coach Jav, and when my father was alive, he was working very hard and he believed he could be best to ever do this.
“Now me and Coach Jav work morning and night not to make him not just champion who can defend title six times, our goal is to make him best fighter pound-for-pound and best to do this of all time. He has very big potential for this,” he added.
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