Opinion- Islam Makhachev Is on Track for a Better Legacy Than Khabib Nurmagomedov

The UFC has undergone a profound transformation in recent years, driven by the unstoppable rise of Dagestani fighters. At the forefront of this wave of dominance stands the iconic Khabib Nurmagomedov. The former UFC champ’s extraordinary career culminated in him retiring as the undefeated UFC title holder, solidifying his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats. Yet, the story of Dagestani excellence doesn’t conclude with Nurmagomedov. In fact, he was just the beginning.

Close on Khabib’s heels is his trusted comrade, Islam Makhachev, who currently holds the UFC lightweight title. Recently, Makhachev made his second successful title defense at UFC 294 against Alexander Volkanovski. With his recent success, the MMA community is beginning to ponder a tantalizing question: could Islam Makhachev be on a trajectory to forge a legacy that eclipses even that of Khabib Nurmagomedov?

Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov record comparison

Both the Dagestani fighters have had an exceptional MMA career. Nurmagomedov retired at the age of 32, and his teammate is almost the same age now. Talking about the elder’s record, he was able to bag 29 wins with no losses. On the other hand, Makhachev has a near-perfect record of 25 wins and 1 loss. The UFC lightweight champ’s only loss came at UFC 192 against Adriano Martins.

In his UFC career, ‘The Eagle’ faced many high-profile fighters. Some of his most famous opponents include Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor, and many more. Moreover, he made three successful title defenses before retiring.

Looking at Islam Makhachev, he has faced and defeated accomplished fighters like Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski (twice) and Dan Hooker. Next, the Dagestan-born is probably going to face Justin Gaethje, or Charles Oliveira again. As of now, Makhachev has made two successful title defenses.

Can Islam Makhachev be a UFC double champ?

No doubt, Khabib Nurmagomedov was the most dominant UFC fighter of his time. However, the Russian fighter only proved himself in the lightweight division. Moreover, he was never interested in moving up or down the weight classes to become a double champ. However, the same cannot be said for Islam Makhachev.

The current UFC champion has made it clear that he wants to move up to the welterweight division. A few weeks ago, Makhachev also shared a social media post that talked about a potential fight between him and potential future welterweight champ Colby Covington.

“Easy money,” the Dagestani fighter wrote. Further, many fans expect Makhachev to do well in the promotion’s welterweight division. This is possibly because of the fighter’s strength and grappling skills. Further, his walk-around weight is almost the same as a welterweight fighter. Although there are no official statements about Makhachev’s move to the 170 lbs division, fans are excited to witness it soon.

Is Islam Makhachev more active than teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov?

Throughout his career, Nurmagomedov managed to impress the MMA world with his dominating performances. However, there were some aspects of his career that did not settle well with fans. One of these was a lack of activity for the Russian fighter. In the last 2 years of his MMA career, the former UFC champ only fought twice.

Read More – “His Striking Was His Weakest Point” – Joe Rogan Gives an Honest Assessment of Islam Makhachev After Dagestani’s Win at UFC 294 Against Alexander Volkanovski

On the other hand, Makhachev seems to be the polar opposite of this. In the last two years, Makhachev has fought a total of five times. This includes two fights against Alexander Volkanovski, his title-winning bout against Charles Oliveira, and victories against Dan Hooker and Bobby Green. Also, two of these five bouts have witnessed last-minute changes in his opponents. It just goes to show that Islam Makhachev might just be more willing to fight than his mentor.

Islam Makhachev under Khabib Nurmagomedov’s shadow? Dana White answers

Does Islam Makhachev still exist in his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov’s shadow? Fans have been wondering about this question lately. At the UFC 294 press conference, CEO Dana White answered this question. “I don’t know if he really lives in Khabib’s shadow,” White said. “(UFC 294 fight against Volkanovski) was a big step in the right direction. The guy’s been dominant,” he said.

“Then, all the controversy that came off that last fight, and he finishes this fight the way that he did. It doesn’t get any better than that against a very tough, durable guy who has a great chin,” Dana White added. Moreover, coach Javier Mendez also made some intriguing comments about the comparison between Makhachev and Khabib.

According to the Dagestani camp’s coach, Makhachev is a much better striker than Nurmagomedov. This is because the former trains for striking all year round. On the other hand, ‘The Eagle’ trained for striking only part-time.

While the comparisons are inevitable, Makhachev’s journey, like Nurmagomedov, has the potential to redefine the sport. While ‘The Eagle’ left an indelible mark by retiring as an undefeated champion, Makhachev’s journey is just beginning. Fans eagerly await to see how his career unfolds, and if he can surpass the legacy of his illustrious teammate.

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