Currently number one pound-for-pound, Islam Makhachev further expanded his legacy in professional MMA in the main fight of UFC 311 in Los Angeles. In just minutes, he submitted Renato Moicano and became the lightweight with the most title defenses in the history of the UFC, with four in total. What makes the record even more symbolic is that the champion simply outran his mentor in the sport: Khabib Nurmagomedov. So, can we claim that Makhachev is a better fighter than ‘The Eagle’?

Well, former fighter Brendan Schaub has provided us with an answer. Speaking on the Thiccc Boy podcast, the former fighter turned podcaster made the stunning claim that Islam Makhachev is a better fighter than the undefeated Nurmagomedov. According to the 41-year-old, the quality of opponents that the reigning lightweight champion has faced is simply better compared to the ones faced by ‘The Eagle.’ But that’s not all; he further added that the reason many keep rating the Dagestani mentor above the pupil is because of nostalgia, something that even works for Mike Tyson.

He said, “Islam’s a better fighter than Khabib. He’s better, better striking, more dominant, better finisher. Khabib falls into the line of, like, people hate when I do this whenever you talk, and I’m not talking bad about Mike Tyson. This is just facts. Khabib’s in this aura right now; he’s like, “Oh, he’s so dominant; no one’s ever going to surpass him; he’s the greatest to ever do it; he’s undefeated,” this and that. Mike Tyson, man, he was so scary. I remember my dad used to buy the pay-per-views. I know it’s all sentimental, but that doesn’t matter. None of that s**t matters.”

Schaub further added that Khabib Nurmagomedov never went one-on-one against a grappler in his career. In fact, the major opponents he faced were past their prime. This makes the podcaster pick Islam Makhachev over ‘The Eagle’ as the better fighter. “His strength of schedule is s**t. Terrible. Conor McGregor—complete straight striker. Dustin Poirier—older. Justin Gaethje—hella older. You know, good wins, quality wins—you got three Hall of Famers on your list. Islam surpassed him, man. Just a better all-around fighter.”

UFC fans understand that even if Islam Makhachev is viewed as the superior fighter, Khabib Nurmagomedov will be among the first to commend him. However, we cannot vouch for how Mike Tyson reacts to Schaub’s opinions. Members of the Dagestan clan, ‘The Eagle’ and Makhachev grew up together as individuals and athletes. In the realm of combat sports, Nurmagomedov’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, was their coach. However, once the veteran died in 2020, the team’s setup saw significant changes. Khabib Nurmagomedov went from a former training partner and friend to Islam Makhachev’s instructor and mentor, supporting his pupil’s rise through the UFC ranks, culminating in his current title and dominance. Now, that same coaching has also helped change Dana White’s mind.

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protege makes Dana White admit pound-for-pound position

The subject of who the true pound-for-pound champion of the UFC is divides opinion. Although Islam Makhachev is officially listed first on the company’s website, Dana White has long questioned his status, citing Jon Jones as a deserving leader as long as the American was active. This landscape shifted dramatically following UFC 311.

With another successful title defense by the Russian, the UFC president recognized the talent of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protege and dubbed him the best fighter in the company, regardless of weight class. During the post-show press conference in Los Angeles (USA), Dana White complimented Makhachev’s bravery in accepting a last-minute opponent change and submitting Renato Moicano in the first round to retain his title.

With the win, the head honcho is finally convinced to change his mind and back the fighter from Dagestan. He said, “He’s already the pound-for-pound No. 1 ranking. Yeah, I’ll give it to him. Is everybody happy now that he’s pound-for-pound? Islam was willing to fight anybody. He’s stayed active, and he went out tonight and performed the way a guy should on a short-notice fight when you are the best in the world and you are the champion.” But what do you think? Who is the real pound-for-pound king of the UFC? Has Islam Makhachev surpassed Khabib Nurmagomedov? Let us know in the comments.