Islam Makhachev names UFC stars who don't deserve BJJ black belts, belittles Tony Ferguson's credentials: "I work with real black belts" 

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has sparked controversy by questioning the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt credentials of several high-profile MMA fighters.

In a recent interview with Hosheh MMA, Makhachev was asked to assess the BJJ belts of various UFC stars. While he praised the grappling prowess of Tom Aspinall and Aljamain Sterling, his opinions took a sharp turn when discussing Dustin Poirier, Paddy Pimblett, and Tony Ferguson.

The Dagestani fighter, known for his formidable grappling skills, suggested that Poirier and Pimblett might be better suited to a brown belt. However, his most scathing remarks were reserved for Ferguson:

"No, he [Tony Ferguson] don’t have black belt. He has a couple of things on the ground that he did with many fighters. But he is not a real black belt. I work with real black belts. It’s so tough. For the fighters, they get a gift. Some don’t deserve it.”

Check out Islam Makhachev's comments below:

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Islam Makhachev condemns Russia's Olympic ban

Islam Makhachev has publicly criticized the ban imposed on Russia from the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Russian athlete expressed his disappointment on Instagram, labeling the decision "dirty politics."

Makhachev, who hails from Dagestan, Russia, empathized with athletes whose Olympic dreams have been shattered due to political circumstances. He accused certain countries of applying "double standards" and unfairly punishing athletes for actions beyond their control:

"I enjoyed watching wrestling these days. It's a pity that dirty politics got into such a courageous sport. People who gave their whole lives to this sport and got a chance to compete at the Olympic Games are forced to stay at home and watch the Olympics on TV. The double standards of dirty countries deprive our athletes of what they have been striving for all their lives."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) implemented the ban on Russia and Belarus in February 2022 in response to the invasion of Ukraine. While individual athletes from these countries are permitted to compete as neutrals, they are barred from representing their nations.