What does it really mean to be a ‘GOAT’ in MMA? Is it all about being the best fighter in the cage, or does legacy and influence outside of it matter too? Conor McGregor’s name often grabs headlines, and this time, it’s for something less fiery but just as intriguing. During a recent live stream with ‘Duelbits’, ‘The Notorious’ shared his picks for the top five greatest MMA fighters of all time.

But as usual, McGregor’s list came with a twist, leaving fans both nodding in agreement and scratching their heads. Without hesitation, McGregor rattled off some names that any die-hard MMA fan would recognize. He started with Rickson Gracie and Royce Gracie, both legends in their own right and pioneers of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, with Royce being the winner of the first-ever UFC tournament held in 1993.

McGregor also paid respect to Ken Shamrock, also known as ‘The World’s Most Dangerous Man’, who helped bring MMA to the mainstream and was a UFC Hall of Fame inductee. Chuck Liddell, the UFC’s first massive superstar, was also on the list. These picks of “THE OGs” from the Irishman left many wondering though—who was the final name?

After pausing for a moment, McGregor completed his list with none other than Bas Rutten, calling him “Europe’s own” and praising his accomplishments in the sport. Each name stirred nostalgia, painting a picture of MMA’s early days when the sport was still taking shape. But did McGregor’s picks resonate with today’s fans? Here’s a look at what the netizens had to say!

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jon Jones get snubbed by Conor McGregor leaving fans questioning his ‘GOAT’ list  

Some fans admired his choices, noting the respect McGregor showed toward the sport’s trailblazers but weren’t convinced that they belonged in the ‘GOAT’ list. When you compare it to Dana White’s list, it paints an interesting picture as the UFC boss recently listed out his own ‘Mount Rushmore’ of MMA greatness and he stated, “Jon Jones, you have to go with Ronda Rousey, you would have to put GSP (Georges St.Pierre) in there, absolutely positively Conor McGregor.”

“Pioneers 100% dunno about goats though”

However, others were more impressed at the respect being shown by the former ‘champ-champ’ to the legends of the sport. McGregor’s picks seem to lean towards honoring fighters who built the foundation that today’s superstars stand on.

“I think Conor knows how important these guys where to the sport”

Another user pointed out that there are more modern names—like Georges St-Pierre, Jose Aldo, Amanda Nunes—that might better define greatness today. With Daniel Cormier and Demetrious Johnson also deserve a mention. What about Jon Jones and Anderson Silva? Well, the fans claimed that despite their accomplishments, they have tainted legacies due to doping violations. What do you think?

“GSP, Aldo, Royce, Nunes, Fedor. Honorable mentions to DC and DJ, Silva and Jones would be in the running but were caught cheating multiple times.”

Why were  Khabib Nurmagomedov and the Dagestani fighters from his team missing from the list? One fan claimed that ‘Team Khabib’ has a better legacy than the Gracie family due to their accomplishments in the world of MMA. While ‘The Eagle’ retired with a perfect 29-0 record, his work in the UFC’s lightweight division is seemingly being carried forward by his friend and protégé, Islam Makhachev who is currently the 155 lbs. king. But that’s not all! Khabib’s cousin, Usman Nurmagomedov is also a title holder in Bellator, and not far behind is Umar Nurmagomedov, currently the no.2 ranked bantamweight in the UFC and the number 1 contender for the belt currently held by Merab Dvalishvili! 

“The nurmagomedovs have a better legacy than The Gracie’s and they haven’t even started yet. Gracies are the most overrated fighters on the planet. If Sambo was easy it would be called Jiu-jitsu. We seen what the Nurmagomedovs do to those bjj guys.”

But despite the back-and-forth surrounding the names on McGregor’s list, one fan brought up an overlooked factor when talking about the ‘GOATs’. What is it? The fact that their impact was something you had to see with your own eyes to understand what it meant. If we take the example of Chuck Liddell, he was the first successful ‘sprawl and brawl’ stylist in the Octagon, ending the hold that wrestlers had on the sport at that time. With the most knockouts in UFC light heavyweight division history, ‘The Iceman’ was an important catalyst in taking the promotion to new heights!

“This isn’t bad tbh. You had to be there.”

In the end, Conor McGregor’s list offers a unique perspective on the GOAT debate. By honoring the pioneers who helped shape the sport, it’s a reminder that greatness isn’t just about records or titles. It’s about legacy, influence, and the fighters who laid the groundwork for the superstars of today. While his list may not reflect everyone’s definition of a GOAT, it certainly sparked a conversation in the MMA Sphere! Do you think the Irish MMA icon hit the mark, or are there names you’d rather see on that list? Let us know in the comments below!