The Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Islam Makhachev GOAT debate rages on following UFC 311.
UFC lightweight champion and pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev put in another dominant performance as he defeated Renato Moicano within minutes at UFC 311. He was set to face Arman Tsarukyan before withdrawing at short notice due to injury, and despite the last -second opponent changed, Makhachev left the Octagon unscathed.
Makhachev and his UFC Hall of Fame mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov are two of the greatest lightweights to ever compete in the Octagon. After Makhachev's latest victory, many fans and experts are beginning to wonder whether or not the student has surpassed the master in the lightweight GOAT debate.
A former UFC champion believes Makhachev's skills set him apart when it comes to the all-time greatest lightweights.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Robert Whittaker picks Islam Makhachev as the UFC LW GOAT
During a recent episode of the MMArcade podcast, Whittaker talked about Makhachev's UFC 311 performance and where he stands in the lightweight GOAT debate.
“Can you expect anything else at this point in Islam's career?” Whittaker said about Makhachev. “Everyone just wants to see the bubble burst, but like Khabib, that won't happen. In my opinion, Islam is much more complete than Khabib. His stroke is so crisp and clean. We've seen such an improvement in his striking over the course of his last few fights, and this was no different…
“The problem is that we have to see him continue, to keep doing it. Statistically, right now he's the best lightweight to ever do it, but if he loses that bubble that pops, that aura goes away. That's why it was so good for Khabib to get out and not give in to anything else. His bubble never burst. But Islam does something [Khabib] did it but took it further and took it as far as he could.
A second UFC title would clearly separate Islam Makhachev from Khabib Nurmagomedov
After UFC 311, Makhachev could potentially challenge for another division championship after nearly knocking out the top lightweight contenders. He has long teased a move up to welterweight, but with teammate Belal Muhammad holding the belt, his jump up a weight class is complicated.
If Makhachev were to win a second title, he would receive an accolade that Nurmagomedov has not earned during his career. Nurmagomedov retired in 2020 after a successful lightweight title defense against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.
Nurmagomedov was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2022 after compiling a 29-0 record during his storied career. He defeated Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Gaethje during his lightweight title reign.
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