Amid ongoing discussions about who truly stands as the UFC’s top talent, renowned coach Javier Mendez has ranked Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev above Alex Pereira and Sean O’Malley as the sport’s biggest stars. This perspective challenges the popular view of Pereira and O’Malley as leading figures in the current UFC landscape.
Javier Mendez Highlights Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev as the Leading UFC Figures
Javier Mendez, known for coaching elite fighters at the American Kickboxing Academy, weighed in recently on the hierarchy of UFC stardom. On The Javier and Mo Show, Mendez emphasized that despite Pereira’s and O’Malley’s prominence, the two fighters he believes command the greatest star power are Jon Jones, the heavyweight titleholder, and Islam Makhachev, the dominant lightweight champion.
Mendez qualified O’Malley’s stardom while contrasting it with the levels reached by Jones and Makhachev, noting their status as superstars. He said,
I’m not saying (O’Malley’s) a superstar…I’m just saying he’s a star,
—Javier Mendez. He then stressed,
I don’t think anybody’s gonna be able to (dispute) that. Those two are superstars,
—Javier Mendez. Adding further context, Mendez also regarded Alex Pereira as a superstar and suggested that Khamzat Chimaev is nearing superstardom, indicating a broader view of emerging talent even if Pereira and O’Malley are not at the very top.
The Current Standing of Sean O’Malley Despite Recent Setbacks
Sean O’Malley, often billed as a future face of the UFC succeeding Conor McGregor, suffered a second straight loss at UFC 316 against Merab Dvalishvili. This defeat stalled O’Malley’s ambitions of reclaiming the bantamweight title. Despite this challenge, O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch maintains confidence in his fighter’s star status unaffected by these results.
Welch compared O’Malley’s position to other high-profile fighters who remained major draws despite losses, saying,
Look at Nate Diaz, how big of a star he is. How many losses does he have?
and continued,
Jorge Masvidal, how many losses does he have? They’re still just f—— huge draws. Huge stars.
—Tim Welch
Alex Pereira’s Path Following His Recent Title Loss
Similarly, Alex Pereira, who rose swiftly to become a two-division UFC champion, experienced a title loss in March at UFC 313 against Magomed Ankalaev. Despite this setback, Pereira is anticipated to receive an immediate rematch later this year, giving him a chance to reclaim his position and potentially solidify his star power within the organization.
Pereira’s trajectory mirrors the turbulence often seen at the highest levels of MMA, where a defeat does not necessarily diminish a competitor’s standing but often sets up high-stakes rivalries that drive fan interest and media coverage. The rematch opportunity signals that the UFC views Pereira as a worthwhile draw despite the recent loss.
The Bigger Picture of UFC Stardom in Today’s Market
Controversies over who commands the greatest attention in the UFC persist as the promotion navigates a landscape less dominated by singular global icons like Conor McGregor. While Pereira and O’Malley have drawn considerable fan followings and media buzz, the endorsement from a veteran coach like Javier Mendez reinforces the idea that Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev currently hold the most significant influence and marketability within the UFC.
This viewpoint highlights the complexity of star power in MMA, where athletic achievement, legacy, and fan engagement combine to define true stardom. As the UFC evolves, the standings of these fighters will remain under close scrutiny by fans and analysts alike, especially as Pereira and O’Malley attempt to rebound and solidify their positions.