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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JULY 12: Jorge Masvidal prepares to fight Kamaru Usman in their UFC welterweight championship fight during the UFC 251 event at Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on July 12, 2020 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JULY 12: Jorge Masvidal prepares to fight Kamaru Usman in their UFC welterweight championship fight during the UFC 251 event at Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on July 12, 2020 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
The BMF champion Jorge Masvidal has ignited a fiery debate among fans. He did so by posing the question: who is the lightweight GOAT among BJ Penn and Khabib Nurmagomedov? Both fighters were dominant and influential fighters in the lightweight division during their times. Both Penn and Nurmagomedov have garnered a loyal following of fans who are quick to defend their chosen fighter’s legacy. Thus, their fans rioted on Twitter to argue about the greatest lightweight.
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One of the most underrated facts about Penn is that he never missed weight throughout his career at UFC. Penn fans also argue that the Hawaiian fighter’s impressive record, including wins over some of the biggest names in the division, solidifies his place as the greatest of all time.
On the other side, Nurmagomedov fans tout the Russian fighter’s undefeated record and dominant performances as evidence of his superior skills and dominance in the lightweight division.
Jorge Masvidal ignites a debate over who is the lightweight GOAT
‘Gamebred’ has a huge fan base because of his persona and his performance inside the octagon. He utilizes his fan base often by being active on social media. Recently he shared a question:
He questioned, “Fans have their say as Jorge Masvidal asks ‘Who is the GOAT at lightweight?”
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 16: UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal interacts with the media during the UFC 246 Ultimate Media Day at UFC APEX on January 16, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Penn’s ability to adapt and evolve his style over the course of his career, showcases his versatility and technical prowess in the octagon.
Nurmagomedov is famous for his impressive grappling and ground game which has proven to be a formidable challenge for even the toughest opponents.
Fans settle the debate
A fan said that Penn’s second half of his career does not erase his achievements: “I really don’t care about losses if they won belts along the way. That’s a huge achievement. Like if He had those losses before the belts no one would care. It doesn’t tarnish his legacy in my eyes.”
Some fan revealed their disappointment in Penn: “He could have been, but he didn’t want to train. At one point, he had to be the best fighter in the world. But nah, he’s not the best lightweight. Khabib is undefeated.”
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One fan chose to remain neutral: “I would say yes he is one of the goats, it’s also Kind of hard to narrow it down to just 1 goat in the UFC”
A fan was not siding with Penn: “He was good in his prime but at 32 just like Cody he started to get whoop and people started saying he wasn’t in his prime at 33 lmao (Record in the ufc 16-14)”
Some fans spoke about his potential: “Penn hardly trained in his early career. Just relied on his talent. Guy was unreal”
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Some fan blasted on Penn: “16-14 and retired on a 7 fight skid, I don’t think so”
A fan gave him respect: “Not the goat, but definitely up there! Mans a legend!”
One fan gave a hilarious response: “Hes a pen that ran out of ink”
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Despite the passionate arguments on both sides, it seems that the debate over the Lightweight GOAT will continue to rage on whether it’s Penn’s impressive resume or Nurmagomedov’s dominant style, both.
Watch this story: Jorge Masvidal’s Top 5 Best Finishes In The UFC
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