In a recent post-fight press conference, UFC CEO Dana White made it clear that although Islam Makhachev's victory at UFC 302 was impressive, he still does not consider him the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. White heaped praise on Makhachev for his 14th consecutive win, but insisted that heavyweight champion Jon Jones still holds the top spot.

White acknowledged Makhachev as one of the greatest fighters of all time, highlighting his incredible skills. However, he emphasized that as long as Jon Jones continues to compete and win, there is no question that he remains the pound-for-pound best.

During the press conference, White was quoted as saying, "Jon Jones has never lost a fight, ever. He's fought all the baddest dudes in the world, and then when you think about what pound-for-pound rankings really mean - he moved up to heavyweight and destroyed the best guy in the world. As long as Jon Jones is still fighting, active, and in the rankings, nobody [else] is pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world."

White pointed out that Jones' record speaks for itself, with his only blemish coming from a disqualification in a fight he was dominating. Despite some controversy surrounding the decision, White has been unsuccessful in getting that loss overturned.

Regarding Makhachev's busy fighting schedule compared to Jones' three-year hiatus, White dismissed the notion that activity alone is enough to surpass Jones' accomplishments. He commended Jones for returning from a long break and defeating the No. 1 heavyweight contender with ease.

White firmly asserted that Jones is the best fighter ever in any combat sport. He highlighted Jones' dominance in the light heavyweight division throughout his career and his seamless transition to heavyweight, where he claimed the championship title in just two minutes against Ciryl Gane.

While Makhachev's recent win over Dustin Poirier was undeniably impressive, White explained that his previous title defenses against a career featherweight were not on the same level as Jones' achievements.

"When you think about what pound-for-pound really means, [Makhachev] fought [Alexander] Volkanovski, who's a weight class lower than him," White explained. "Jon Jones beat everybody at light heavyweight then beat the best heavyweight in the division like it was nothing at a higher weight class."

White's comments have generated mixed reactions from fans and the MMA community. However, Jones himself took to Twitter to express his gratitude for the recognition from the UFC boss. He stated, "It felt awesome to get that level of recognition from the boss, the man that's literally been here since UFC 1. Dana White has had a front-row seat to my entire career, facts are facts."

As the debate over the pound-for-pound title continues, it is clear that Dana White firmly believes Jon Jones is the best fighter in the world today. Until Jones decides to retire, Makhachev will have to settle for the No. 2 spot, patiently waiting for his chance to claim the throne.