‘Greatest of all time’ and ‘pound-for-pound’ – those are terms that get MMA fans riles up, aren’t they? Everyone has their pick for who deserves the top spot, but when it comes to lightweight legends, the debate gets heated. So, who truly deserves the title of the lightweight GOAT? Is it Khabib Nurmagomedov, who never lost a fight, or could it be Islam Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion?

And where do OG fighters like BJ Penn and Frankie Edgar fit in this mix? Clay Guida, who’ll be stepping into the octagon at UFC 310, recently weighed in with his thoughts, and let’s just say, his rankings might surprise you. Is ‘The Eagle’ still the best, or is the torch passing to Makhachev? Well, Guida thinks there’s a new lightweight king in the making, but it’s not quite as simple as you think.

‘The Carpenter’ was recently asked to give his take on the top five lightweight fighters of all time, in an interview with Mike Owens on Inside Fighting. Guida dove straight into his take on the rankings, starting with a legend who still holds a special place in his heart. “You’ve got to put BJ Penn in his prime. People say it all the time, he (is) top one or two, all day. The guy was… he was untouchable for the longest time,” Guida said. Frankie Edgar earned his spot “at a close second” for dethroning Penn (beating him three times) and proving his dominance despite being the smaller guy.

Where are Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev on Guida’s List?

But what about Khabib? Though Guida didn’t rank him first, ‘The Eagle’ who’s “record speaks for itself” comes in the top three after ‘The Prodigy’ and ‘The Answer’. Sure, he acknowledged Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s incredible undefeated record, but he felt like Islam Makhachev could soon take the crown. “If he can get past Arman Tsarukyan, chances are he’s gonna be the greatest lightweight of all time.” But hold up, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Guida isn’t giving out that title just yet.

Guida thinks Islam Makhachev still has a bit more to prove, especially in terms of longevity. So, what makes Guida so confident in Makhachev’s future? According to him, it’s all about time and dominance.  While Makhachev is looking like the future of the division, Guida points out how Charles Oliveira’s reign sets a high bar. “Oliveira has had it for a while,” Guida said. “Oh man, Oliveira for sure. The dominant run – he went on a run that was just unbelievable; finishing guys, finishing the top guys. What he did to Michael Chandler last week! He outwrestled, out-grappled the two-time [NCAA] Division-1 All-American. He kind of had his way with him, it was pretty wild to see.” 

Despite being spellbound by ‘du Bronx’, Guida’s prediction is clear – Islam is on the right path and if he keeps it up, there’s a good chance he’ll overtake everyone on his list. But we all know how quickly things can change in the UFC, right? So, is it Khabib’s legacy holding Makhachev back, or is it simply a matter of time before Islam takes the top spot? Amid talking about legacies, Clay Guida is getting ready for his own fight at UFC 310 against Chase Hooper.

Hooper is a rising star, but Guida’s got years of experience under his belt. Could this be a passing of the torch, or will Guida remind everyone why he’s still a force to be reckoned with in the UFC? What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, as we look ahead to December 8th!