“Your life seems tied to breaking rules”: Islam Makhachev fires back at Jon Jones after doping dispute over 20-fight UFC win streak

Islam Makhachev has responded to Jon Jones after the former UFC champion strongly defended his record following comments about his 20-fight unbeaten run. Makhachev had questioned whether Jones’ streak should be considered valid because of his past failed drug tests and suspensions.Jones hit back on social media and defended himself by referring to previous USADA findings. The exchange quickly turned personal, with Jones also mocking Makhachev’s only UFC loss and bringing up comments made by Makhachev’s late coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.Islam Makhachev responds to Jon Jones after doping claim goes viral Islam Makhachev has now answered Jones with a sharp tweet. The UFC welterweight champion did not back away from his earlier comments and appeared to criticise Jones for repeatedly avoiding blame over controversies during his career.Makhachev wrote, “Your whole life seems to be tied to breaking the rules one way or another, and somehow, you’re never the one to be blamed.”The response came after Jones posted a lengthy defence of his UFC record. Jones argued that fans could not accept USADA’s findings about his failed test while ignoring the agency’s conclusion that the substance was not found to be performance-enhancing or intentional.Jones wrote, “If you believe USADA for finding a picogram in my system, then you must believe USADA when they say, ‘It was not found to be PERFORMANCE ENHANCING or INTENTIONAL.’ You can’t have it both ways.”The former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion has faced two major doping controversies. He served suspensions after failed drug tests in 2017 and 2018. Jones has consistently denied intentionally using performance-enhancing drugs.His 2017 test involved a turinabol metabolite. Jones said the substance entered his system through a contaminated sexual enhancement product. In the 2018 case, an arbitrator also found that there was no evidence Jones had intentionally used steroids.However, Makhachev believes those incidents should affect how Jones’ famous winning streak is viewed.Jones responded by pointing to his long record inside the Octagon. He said his hand had been raised in every fight he completed without the disqualification against Matt Hamill.Jones then turned his attention to Makhachev’s only UFC defeat. The Russian lost to Adriano Martins by knockout in 2015.Jones had mocked that defeat in his response,he wrote, “Let’s not forget you’ve been KO’d, flatlined, went night night.”He also referenced Makhachev’s late coach and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Jones reminded Makhachev that the respected coach had previously described him as a “gift from God.”The former champion also brought Daniel Cormier into the argument. Jones defeated Cormier twice, although their second fight was later changed to a no-contest after Jones tested positive for a turinabol metabolite.Makhachev currently sits at the top of the UFC pound-for-pound rankings, a position Jones previously held. The latest exchange could add another chapter to the ongoing debate over Jones’ legacy and whether his past doping cases should affect how his remarkable winning streak is viewed.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.