“We've got Ilia apparently running from Arman Tsarukyan, we've got Islam Makhachev running from Ilia Topuria, we've got Khamzat Chimaev running from Nassourdine Imavov, we've got [Alex] Pereira running from Khamzat Chimaev, and we've got Jon Jones, the greatest of all time, running from big Tom Aspinall. That is the situation if you listen to all the noise.”

– via his YouTube channel, listing various fighters who are being accused of avoiding challenging matchups and arguing that champions should defend their title in their weight class three times or vacate the belt before seeking to move up a division.

“If [Makhachev] gets the job done, I think without question, he deserves to be in that conversation.Without a shadow of a doubt. If he can beat Jack, and I know it is a big if… and go on a run and defend it two or three times, it’s insane”

– discusses Islam's GOAT status via The Bohnfire with Mike Bohn