Former three-time UFC champion Georges St-Pierre is on the all-time pound-for-pound (P4P) list for many fight fans.
'Rush' etched his name in the annals of MMA history with his legendary string of championship victories from 2007 to 2017. During this time, he made 10 title defenses in the welterweight division and claimed the middleweight belt from Michael Bisping after a five-way match. year break.
St-Pierre is a tough act to follow, but he believes there is one fighter who could fill his shoes.
Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Georges St-Pierre ranks Islam Makhachev as the best UFC talent of the moment
Speaking to esteemed coach Firas Zahabi at Montreal's Tristar Gym, St-Pierre named UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev as his P4P No. 1.
“[Makhachev’s] great,” St-Pierre noted. “I think he's the best pound-for-pound at the moment… Because of his last few performances. … I think they're just at the top of their game, you know, these two guys [Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov].
“The guys from Dagestan just have incredible wrestling backgrounds, and they're just so good at mixing it up.”
Makhachev is just one of many Dagestani fighters dominating the world of MMA. Khabib's cousin, Umar Nurmagomedov, will fight for the bantamweight title in the co-main event of UFC 311.
Meanwhile, Umar's younger brother, Usman Nurmagomedov, reigns as PFL-Bellator lightweight champion and will defend his title against Paul Hughes in January.
Recently released flyweight fighter Muhammad Mokaev, originally from Dagestan, was once on the verge of capturing UFC gold.
Islam Makhachev will make UFC history at UFC 311
Makhachev will defend his lightweight title for the fourth time in a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan, headlining UFC 311 on January 18.
His lightweight championship reign includes impressive wins over Alexander Volkanovski (twice), Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier.
Makhachev's first fight with Volkanovski is considered one of MMA's greatest displays ever.
If he defends his title, Makhachev will set a new record for lightweight title defenses, surpassing the current record of three held by Khabib Nurmagomedov, Benson Henderson and BJ Penn. Any subsequent title defense for Makhachev would be a historically defining moment.
Alternatively, Makhachev could consider moving up to welterweight or even middleweight in his pursuit of double or triple championship status.
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