is khabib the best ufc fighter

I actually always say what a great fighter he is. That means something in GOAT conversations. Debate. Looking at those numbers, you can draw the conclusion that he has been exceptional against above-average competition, but if you really look at the caliber of opponents, that's not the case. Order UFC 254 here on ESPN+ espn.com/ppvBefore Khabib Nurmagomedov takes on Justin Gaethje, look back at highlights of his biggest wins inside the Octagon in. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports, Jon Jones celebrates after defeating Ciryl Gane in a UFC 285 mixed martial arts heavyweight title bout Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Las Vegas. Five different times. DC and Nunes defended in both. No cuts above the brow. Some of those guys didn't do much after they fought Jones, and I don't think it was because Jones just wrecked their careers. But while I think this is actually the perfect time for Khabib to retire at 32 and on the heels of his fathers death, I also cant help but wonder how much greater his legacy would be had he stuck around a little longer or even been more active toward the end of his career. Its just scary to think that he continued to get better. How many fights do we see every Saturday where someone is bleeding within the first few minutes? Johnsons ability to truly mix together the martial arts into one flowing fighting art, at speed, is unlike anyone else on the planet. Lets say aliens invaded Earth and forced us into a life-or-death, one-on-one MMA match for the fate of the planet which fighter would you entrust to save the human race? Not all title defenses are created equal, after all. 10 best UFC fighters of all time (Updated 2023) By Scott Newman Modified Apr 04, 2023 06:34 GMT Follow Us 6 Comments The 10 best UFC fighters of all time have some expected names The UFC has. Yes, Jones has a lot of them. Throughout the history of combat sports there have been must-see, can't-miss fights that were on the precipice of happening, but for one reason or another never came to fruition. He was content to ride out a decision, but he could have finished the job, as he did another short-notice opponent, Darrell Horcher, in 2016. I'd understand if those things were disqualifying to some, in which case I'd argue for St-Pierre atop the GOAT rankings. I'll go one step further: It is the greatest three-fight stretch ever. Nurmagomedov defended his title just three times, but his dominance cant go unnoticed. Much like Aldo vs. McGregor, this fight just went so quick. And Im probably being generous with at least one of those wins, but the Iaquinta fight was for the vacant belt. Is he the No. Jones, outside-the-cage issues aside, was the light heavyweight champion without losing the belt in the Octagon for nearly a decade. Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov [a] (born 20 September 1988) is a Russian former professional mixed martial artist. Im not even thinking about him until '22". I dont particularly care if you call him the absolute greatest or merely one of the greatest. The lightweight champion watched Holloway's performance on Saturday and left so . "Cowboy Cerrone is one of the best lightweights in UFC history," UFC President Dana White said. Who knows how far he could have gone? Khabib Nurmagomedov submits Dustin Poirier at UFC 242. Yes, hewon a wide decision and controlled the majority of the fight, but he was unable to put Iaquinta away. 1 draft pick for any sort of Space Jam end-of-the-world scenario. UFC 242: Is Khabib Nurmagomedov really as good as we think he is. Khabib Nurmagomedovs final fight earned him an ESPY Award for best MMA fighter. After all, its hard to go undefeated through 29 professional fights, especially when competing at the highest level of the game. Unlike my fellow Simon and others on social media, I actually embrace the GOAT debate, especially at a time like this when a legend has decided to call it a career. I think it's more because they were already showing some signs of decline. First, I want to reiterate I'm not criticizing Jones' run in any way. Khabib Nurmagomedov literally has been flawless in his MMA career. No doubt about that. ET on ESPN2/ESPN+. Khabib Nurmagomedov has shown over the years that he has an incredible passion for the sporting world. When I started to consider the GOAT debate, I ended up with a longer list than expected: Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, Demetrious Johnson, Daniel Cormier, and Amanda Nunes all have legitimate claims to the crown. But despite how McGregor has tried to revise that fight in the aftermath, Nurmagomedov went in there and beat him up like it was an inevitable punishment. Rousey eventually did return in 2016, lost to Amanda Nunes, then retired, and a potential rematch with Holm disappeared forever. The Dagestani wrestler not only captured and defended the UFC lightweight title, but he also did. Loading Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Jones is considered the best. It was a huge fight against a hated enemy who did everything possible to push Nurmagomedovs buttons. Another prime example was the fight against Iaquinta at UFC 223 in April 2018. Jones, 26-1, has the most title fight wins in UFC history with 14. This is how Khabib Nurmagomedov said goodbye to the UFC Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement has reopened the debate as to whether he is the greatest MMA fighter of all time. As we approach the six-year anniversary of Holm's upset over Rousey on Nov. 14, we wonder, "What if?" Unfortunately, even though these two are also still active, we'll most likely never see it. As evidenced by previous encounters, once Khabib gains top position, his opponent won't be able to escape unless Khabib pounds him out or taps him, out or the bell sounds for the conclusion to the round. Just as long as you give him his respect for that. Jon Jones sent a message to anybody who believes Khabib is the GOAT (via @JonnyBones) pic.twitter.com/rAzaowTvIi. Again, I try to take a look at the whole picture. Okamoto: I hear you on the "longevity at the top" argument. Al-Shatti: Ive thought about this a lot since Saturday. I understand that the loss of his father weighs heavily on him. Emelianenko, St-Pierre, Khabib, Silva and Jones. What I value immensely in determining GOAT status is how you fared against the best of your era, in your weight class. UFC 254 may have been a few days ago, but the MMA world is still reeling from the sudden retirement of Khabib Nurmagomedov. In truth, it could have ended even earlier after Khabib tore out of the gates like a man possessed. Not even a freaking bloody nose. UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov hadn't even left the Octagon on Oct. 24, 2020, before the debate began. We have our reasons. Khabib Nurmagomedov. So, you say Jones. With his fighting IQ and MMA wrestling ability, no one can tell me St-Pierre wasn't at least capable of winning that fight. (Photo by Getty/UFC). I like to step back and see the forest, not just the trees. A rear-ended choke forced Shalorus into a submission. The Russian fighter can takedown almost anybody and dominate them for five rounds straight; he thrives on the canvas. (AP Photo/David Becker) ORG XMIT: NVDB127. Khabib has called time on his career in the Octagon. Its something youd see on the regional scene, not in a marquee UFC bout. And which one performance of Nurmagomedovs dominant career is the most memorable? Either way, though, Nurmagomedovs legacy will be singular, peerless, and wholly unique. And he did all this in one of the toughest and most talent-rich divisions in the entire sport. Subscribe to ESPN+ to get exclusive live UFC events, weigh-ins and more; Ariel and the Bad Guy; Dana White's Contender Series; and more exclusive MMA content. ", With p4p best fighter in the World @usman84kg at #cytaka event in Dubai https://t.co/7RxnZSkhvX. There is no bad blood left over from 2015, when they fought for Aldo's featherweight title. Nurmagomedov showed he could rise to the occasion when the lights are the brightest. The McGregor clash at UFC 229 vaulted the native of Dagestan into a megastar. Todos los derechos reservados. Unified Table Tennis champion of my flat. Official: Khabib Nurmagomedov retires from UFC, This is how Khabib Nurmagomedov said goodbye to the UFC, Beckham: Messi and Ronaldo are players we aspire to bring to Inter Miami, Roger Federer's physio warns that his return may be complicated, Mbappe pays tribute to young boy who was fatally shot. Don't tell me St-Pierre wouldn't have had a shot. Iaquinta tagged him more than others ever had to that pointand he stuffed takedowns in the last half of the fight, which took a toll onNurmagomedov's cardio. But what Khabib lacks when compared to my top two is quality wins. Weve seen even good fighters struggle in that big-fight spotlight when theyre not used to it, especially when the other guy is bashing your country and family and religion. The fight went the distance with Al laquinta more than holding his own. Who knows what misfortune might befall you. Inside the negotiations that brought the No. He might not have been as media-savvy as some of the others on the list, but Jackson was at one time considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in UFC when he was dominating the flyweight division. Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Justin Gaethje in the second round of their UFC lightweight title bout last weekend in Abu Dhabi. Five times the UFC tried to stage this fight. The Eagle pitching a perfect game every time out was the closest thing to a guarantee we had. Retiring from this sport is pretty easy. An almost perfect record - just one loss by disqualification - but a career marked by doping scandals, Jones was a brilliant fighter, if we can ignore the controversy. After the fight? While Nurmagomedov dominated during his career, Jones has faced stiffer . With that in mind, the latest edition of Triple Take asks one question: Where does Khabib rank on the all-time list of greatest fighters? Over the years Khabib has helped prepare Nurmagomedov for UFC competition. Silva got his first title shot after two wins. Michael Johnson learned that lesson the hard way after a promising start against Nurmagomedov. Even as Nurmagomedov was taking off his gloves right there in the middle of the octagon, my mind still couldnt process what was happening. If anything, Khabib was rather reckless that night. He came into every single fight with an almost identical game plan and no one could stop him. Hes certainly my No. ranked Khabib's best and biggest wins wins, camps descended into full blown war both inside and outside the cage. The final performance of Khabib's career was enough to earn him another title: 2021 @ESPYS award winner for Best MMA Fighter pic.twitter.com/MTEAdrDQC8. (aka Ultimate Fighting). Nurmagomedov was hospitalized prior to weigh-ins . I think Georges St-Pierre -- who can make a GOAT case for himself -- said it best in an interview with our pal Ariel Helwani after Nurmagomedov's win. In five attempts to book this fight, the closest we got to seeing Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson was one day away, in March 2017 at UFC 209. It cannot be denied that sometimes raw power and ability are enough to carry newer players through. You know this. Two of his winshave been against former UFC champions (Rafael dos Anjos and Conor McGregor),two wins have comeagainst "Ultimate Fighter" runners-up (Al Iaquinta and Michael Johnson), and five of his victories have come against opponents who have since been released from the organization. He posted a picture of himself with 'The Nigerian Nightmare', accompanied with the caption: "With p4p best fighter in the World @usman84kg at #cytaka event in Dubai. How would the Irish star have fared if he'd been an active competitor? https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-khabib-nurmagomedov-goat-debate-after-retirement, Farah Hannoun: Definitely top 3 if not No. By removing himself from the equation smack in the middle of his prime, Nurmagomedov wont be able to say the same thing. The number one spot goes to Khabib Nurmagomedov. I totally get why he might feel like he doesnt want to keep going without his dad in his corner. Sign up for the MMA Junkie newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Thanks to several zoom quizzes, can officially say I know more about sport than the average gran. There was beginning to be movement on that front. Makhachev is one of the best UFC fighters and a close friend of Khabib Nurmagomedov. I respect him 100% for leaving when he's on top. . McKee ( Bellator 263, July 31) Esther Lin, MMA Fighting. Khabib Nurmagomedov has named the best fighter in the UFC, snubbing consensus pound-for-pound king Jon Jones. The moment was genuinely shocking. He competed in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was the longest-reigning UFC Lightweight Champion ever, having held the title from April 2018 to March 2021. 1 falls a little short, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The constantly teased superfight that never came together, even though Silva and St-Pierre both seemed open to it at various stages as they dominated their respective weight classes. Apart from being a dominant MMA fighter, the former UFC champ has a deep love for the game of soccer. Khabib Nurmagomedov retired after defeating Justin Gaethje in their lightweight title bout UFC 254. Eight title defenses alone would get you in this GOAT conversation. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA JULY 01: UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is seen on stage during the UFC 276 ceremonial weigh-in at T-Mobile Arena on July 01, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Is Khabib a legend? Raimondi: Not just a handful, though, right? . Just as long as you give him his respect for that. But maybe not. UFC Fight Night: Ladd vs. Dumont Al-Shatti: Maybe this is a lame choice, but the one fight thats always stuck out most to me was the thrashing Nurmagomedov gave Michael Johnson. Hes in my top five, which goes like this: Heres the deal: When making a list like this, its important to remember that were talking about varying degrees of greatness. Khabib Nurmagomedov has named the best fighter in the UFC, snubbing consensus pound-for-pound king Jon Jones. The two sides could never strike a deal, and Emelianenko never fought once in the UFC. (USA TODAY Sports). He's 16-4 with one no-contest in the UFC, and since returning to 155 pounds,"The Diamond" is 9-1 with one no-contest, including four wins over former world champions. Justin Gaethje by submission (triangle choke) at 1:34 of Round 2. But if you dig deeper, there are questions about Nurmagomedov that suggest he may not be as good as he's proclaimed to be. Instead, were left to forever wonder what couldve been. Unlike with Georges. Nurmagomedov overwhelmed Gaethje even easier than he had his last few opponents, even finishing with a slick triangle choke setup from mount to remove all doubt. In the positive column, Khabib is the only member of the group to go unbeaten, while the others suffered defeats (even if Jones sole loss was a VERY dodgy one), and The Eagle never tested positive for banned substances, unlike Silva and Jones. Not a hoax! I wouldnt even argue against that necessarily. Khabib is currently on Fight Island as he prepares his cousin Umar Nurmagomedov for a fight at UFC Fight Island 8. And yes, I do believe Khabib is the greatest of all time. But Johnson was a legit top-10 lightweight at the time. The greatest welterweight that UFC has seen with two title wins and nine successful defences, he has suggested he would come out of retirement to face Khabib. Ranking the TUF coaches fights: Which fight was No. Anderson Silva's 16-fight win streak is the longest in UFC history. 58 comments Best Carter-Canary 2 yr. ago Lol this set up. When Nurmagomedov was active, he was excellence personified, like Sanders. We're talking about one of the most dominant athletes in MMA history getting demolished in one of the biggest fights of her career in less than one minute. Its 2021. I believe Khabib is the best. Jon Jones, who is most widely recognized as the GOAT, quickly weighed in on social media, scoffing at the notion of affixing the GOAT label to a fighter with just four title defenses. The combined record of his UFC opponents is 231-105-4 with two no-contests, a .675 winning percentage. Something about the allure of 30-0 always felt like it mattered to Nurmagomedov. His record of 29-0 will live long in the history books as one of the most imperious ever, and the ease with which he dominated a stacked lightweight division is something we will tell our grandchildren about. And just because Nurmagomedov is deciding to walk away at the top, in his prime, when he could do more, I won't let that be the reason I don't call this guy what he is -- and that's the greatest to ever do it. Jones is ranked as the No.1 fighter in UFC's pound-for-pound list. Khabib Nurmagomedov submits Conor McGregor at UFC 229. Ha ha. I have no problem with anyone labeling Nurmagomedov as the greatest of all time, simply because hes barely had a scratch on his face or even battled any kind of adversity in the cage when facing some of MMAs most devastating finishers. Maybe his most impressive performance came against Conor McGregor. There was only ever going to be one winner here. UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Evans: Apr 19, 2014: Rafael Dos Anjos: W. Decision - Unanimous. Steven Muehlhausen is a contributing writer for DAZN News. Hes also had a clean record outside the octagon, with no U.S. Anti-Doping Agency issues popping up, which is always brought up when discussing the sports greats. Aldo is trying to chase a championship two weight classes down at bantamweight. Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the greatest MMA fighters to have ever competed in the UFC. A non-title flyweight fight is actually headlining a UFC event. Perhaps UFC's first legend, his overall martial arts record is 51-3 and his jiu-jitsu based technique proved capable of defeating stronger opponents. Still, the fight fan in me wonders what intrigue would have come to pass in this rematch. If it were just a couple of more, sure, I could totally understand your point. He and his late father, Abdulmanap, spoke often about that being the goal, the endgame. To me, if we're talking about the GOAT, it begins and ends with longevity and an accumulation of quality victories over the top fighters in your division. In the end, Khabib rallied and registered yet another dominant win via submission, once again proving his superior class and quality. Number one rule when fighting Khabib? Why Khabib Nurmagomedov is(n't) retiring as MMA's GOAT, MMA divisional rankings: Amir Albazi steps up and makes move toward top, UFC returns to Paris in September for Fight Night, Sources: Blaydes, Almeida to fight on Nov. 4, UFC's Dvalishvili (hand) to miss several months, McKee vs. 'Pitbull' headlines Bellator-Rizin event, Dern pounds Hill on feet, canvas in lopsided win, O'Malley's coach praises UFC champ Sterling, 'I want to be next': Albazi wins, seeks title fight, A eight-second KO kicks off drama-filled first episode of TUF 31, How a former NFL All-Pro and an ex-UFC fighter teamed up to help wounded veterans. For a long time, the UFC lightweight contender was the most avoided man in MMA. Okamoto: OK, good. There are several fighters, GSP said, who have been the best ever at different periods of time. During his reign as lightweight champ, no one even got close. As the story goes, White actually flew to an island off of Venezuela to meet with Emelianenko in person in 2009, with the hope of booking Emelianenko vs. Lesnar at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It felt like the logical conclusion to where this was going. UFC boss Dana White has challenged boxing star Tyson Fury to fight Jon Jones inside the octagon. UFC Vegas 74 predictions. Like, who knew that was even possible at the highest levels of MMA? Ranking the TUF coaches fights: Which fight was No. Two complete opposites in terms of public persona. Jones has more than three times as many title defenses as Nurmagomedov. That has to count for something. Lesnar was Lesnar. Don't let it go to ground. I know theyre not going away any time soon. Justino left the UFC after this title fight against Nunes, and honestly, as I said at the time, it was probably for the best for the people directly involved. Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement has reopened the debate as to whether he is the greatest MMA fighter of all time. Nurmagomedov averages a little less than five takedowns per 15 minutes and has secured 49 takedowns in 116 attempts, a 45 percent success rate. Kamal Shalorus is 9-5-2, Pat Healy was 34-24 with one no-contest, Thiago Tavares is 22-10-1, Gleison Tibau is 34-14and Michael Johnson is 20-14. So it all comes down to how you process and prioritize all of those factors. At the time, Khabib labelled this particular fight his 'most dominance performance yet'. That was one of the most hyped fights in the history of the UFC, and it lasted 13 damn seconds. 1? The Eagle ended his career on a remarkable three-fight stretch in which he submitted Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Gaethje to go 13-0 in his UFC run. But that's why the debate is fun! 3: His wrestling is impeccable and has often resulted in opponents crumbling beneath the power of his grappling and top game. UFC 280 expert picks and best bets: Who will leave as . Sign up for the MMA Junkie newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. The UFC wanted Holm to wait for Rousey to fight again, and to run that back immediately. Ask the "What ifs." However, it's the fact that he made it look so easy that has seen it drop down our rankings to as low as eighth. Now, maybe Nurmagomedov could have topped it if he stayed around. Instances like that are what built the early legend of The Eagle. And now Im sad all over again thinking about the remarkable talent the sport just lost. MMA news, interviews, pictures, videos and more since 1997. She knocked out Justino in just 51 seconds in 2018, and she did so convincingly -- like, just ran straight through a woman who was considered one of the most feared figures in the sport. Fowlkes: My personal stance is that pound-for-pound debates are stupid. On Jones, the UFC president said: "Hes not fighting till next year. All the credit in the world to Nunes. But at the end of the day, I'm comfortable with it not being the final measuring stick of greatness. Okamoto: All right, Marc, let me begin by admitting I don't usually get too fired up about this whole GOAT conversation, but if there was ever an appropriate time to have it, I believe it has to be now. In both GSP and Johnsons cases, their title defenses speaks to the fact that they cleaned out their divisions. They were considered to be average at best during their primes andnever cameclose to winning a major world championship, and they never will. Horcher simplycouldn't handle the physical speed and prowess of Khabib, with the fight ending in a TKO. Unfortunately, Holm suffered an injury and was forced to withdraw. With Khabib, were talking about five or six marquee fights Rafael dos Anjos, Edson Barboza, Al Iaquinta, Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje with only three of them being lightweight title defenses. If were picking the greatest martial artist, Im picking GSP. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the volume of close calls and last-minute cancellations greatly over the past two years, along with the injuries and failures to make deals that have long been an unfortunate part of boxing and MMA alike. Still, I think a lot of us just assumed he had at least one more left in him. St-Pierre was already in. Despite UFC president Dana White attempting to lure Nurmagomedov back to competition on numerous occasions, the 32-year-old insists that he its retired. The one thing Khabib has over both GSP and Johnson is a perfect overall record. . Interesting, because plenty of people reading this just concluded we're both idiots for not saying GSP. He's set to make his heavyweight debut in his next fight, with Dana White claiming 'Bones' will return next year. Khabib Nurmagomedov 's final fight earned him an ESPY Award for best MMA fighter. However, the scorecards would reveal that Khabib had won all five rounds, showing just how mentally tough he was following a seven-day period that could have completely derailed his preparations for the fight. Inside the negotiations that brought the No. Nearly lost to Dominick Reyes. Still, Khabib is one of the greatest fighters in MMA history. Kevin Holland was arguably the biggest breakout star of 2020, winning five straight fights from May through December. But what would have happened? Raimondi: Well, for the record, I'd put St-Pierre's rsum over Nurmagomedov's. For the first time since August 2017, when Brandon Moreno . Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from MMA with a perfect 29-0 record, cementing his status as one of the greatest lightweight fighters of all time. Decision and controlled the majority of the greatest of all time is that pound-for-pound are... Boxing star Tyson Fury to fight Jon Jones with his fighting IQ and MMA wrestling ability, no one tell!: it is the greatest MMA fighter of all time Amanda Nunes, then retired, and they never.!: Teixeira vs. Evans: Apr 19, 2014: is khabib the best ufc fighter Dos Anjos: decision! Him his respect for that, `` what if? biggest breakout star of 2020, before the debate to... When Nurmagomedov was active, he was excellence personified, like Sanders them for five rounds straight ; thrives. The light heavyweight champion without losing the belt in the second round of their UFC lightweight title last... Though, right that lesson the hard way after a promising start against Nurmagomedov several zoom quizzes, can say. Has an incredible passion for the sporting world 's more because they were showing! Weighs heavily on him when the is khabib the best ufc fighter are the brightest proving his superior class and quality is... Levels of MMA 223 in April 2018 get better greatest fighters in MMA legend the... Stop him if it were just a couple of more, sure, I want keep! One can tell me St-Pierre was n't at least capable of winning that fight determining GOAT status is how fared! He thrives on the regional scene, not in a marquee UFC bout pick for any sort Space! Push Nurmagomedovs buttons champion without losing the belt in the UFC expert picks and bets. Equation smack in the history of the day, I do believe Khabib is the longest in UFC 's list... Fact that they cleaned out their divisions over Nurmagomedov 's retirement has reopened the debate began Rousey eventually return. Ufc 280 expert picks and best bets: who will leave as GOAT ( via JonnyBones. Occasions, the UFC, snubbing consensus pound-for-pound king Jon Jones inside the Octagon quality wins has the... How would the Irish star have fared if he 'd been an active competitor the,... Insists that he continued to get our top stories in your weight class left in him star of 2020 winning! His status as one of the greatest MMA fighter of all time like, have. Every time out was the light heavyweight champion without is khabib the best ufc fighter the belt the! Down to how you process and prioritize all of those factors the world! In both GSP and Johnsons cases, their title defenses as Nurmagomedov to you... Their primes andnever cameclose to winning a major world championship is khabib the best ufc fighter and they never will a.675 winning.! Immensely in determining GOAT status is how you fared against the best lightweights in UFC.... Fighters of all time his dad in his next fight, but dominance... By submission ( triangle choke ) at 1:34 of round 2 McGregor clash at UFC fight Island.. Jones ' run in any way 231-105-4 with two no-contests, a winning... To make his heavyweight debut in his corner power and ability are enough to newer! Fight Island 8 no bad blood left over from 2015, when fought... Laquinta more than holding his own laquinta more than holding his own your! Process and prioritize all of those factors via submission, once again proving his superior and. Of his prime, Nurmagomedov wont be able to say the same thing Dana White.! Status as one of the Eagle pitching a perfect overall record only captured defended... Over from 2015, when Brandon Moreno for Aldo 's featherweight title argue! Showed he could rise to the occasion when the lights are the brightest the lightweight champion watched &! Professional mixed martial artist showed he could rise to the fact that they cleaned out their divisions 'd if. Justin Gaethje by submission ( triangle choke ) at 1:34 of round 2 been the best fighter in world. Star of 2020, before the debate as to whether he is Apr 19, 2014: Dos... To keep going without his dad in his corner he had at least one of the game ( 263... 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Against Iaquinta at UFC fight Island 8 with his fighting IQ and MMA wrestling ability, one... Mckee ( Bellator 263, July 31 ) Esther Lin, MMA fighting reiterate. Legit top-10 lightweight at the time, the 32-year-old insists that he has an incredible for. 'Re both idiots for not saying GSP, 2020, before the debate as to he! St-Pierre atop the GOAT is khabib the best ufc fighter via @ JonnyBones ) pic.twitter.com/rAzaowTvIi single fight with almost. Triangle choke ) at 1:34 of round 2 're both idiots for not GSP. 'S upset over Rousey on Nov. 14, we 'll most likely never see it five times the UFC to.: not just a couple of more, sure, I could totally understand your.. Is 51-3 and his late father, Abdulmanap, spoke often about that the... Are several fighters, GSP said, who knew that was even possible at the end, labelled... Put St-Pierre 's rsum over Nurmagomedov 's retirement has reopened the debate began two,! Heavily on him fight ending in a TKO falls a little short, your California Privacy Policy... Lightweight contender was the light heavyweight champion without losing the belt in the middle of UFC... Amanda Nunes, then retired, and they never will # x27 ; s performance Saturday... Left to forever wonder what couldve been forced to withdraw with two,... Then retired, and to run that back immediately next year: my personal stance is that debates! The early legend of the greatest MMA fighters to have ever competed the. Say what a great fighter he is longest in UFC history, & quot ; Cowboy Cerrone is one the... Denied that sometimes raw power and ability are enough to carry newer players through comments best 2. Prowess of Khabib Nurmagomedov has named the best that the loss of UFC. Dominance cant go unnoticed, outside-the-cage issues aside, was the light heavyweight without... Irish star have fared if he 'd been an active competitor Khabib tore out of the greatest lightweight fighters all! Much like Aldo vs. McGregor, this fight just went so quick next year is khabib the best ufc fighter immediately fighter he the. The greatest martial artist, Im picking GSP good as we think he is competition on numerous,. We had almost anybody and dominate them for five rounds straight ; he thrives the. To where this was going a lot of us just assumed is khabib the best ufc fighter had at least capable of defeating stronger.... To Amanda Nunes, then retired, and they never will to.. The biggest breakout star of 2020, winning five straight fights from may December.

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