According to this veteran, Islam Makhachev can enter the GOAT debate in the -70kg category by beating Arman Tsarukyan.
Khabib Nurmagomedov, friend but also coach of Islam Makhachev, has the record for the number of title defenses in the category lightweight in the UFC. A record of which is three in number, and which was equaled by Islam Makhachev after his victory by submission over Dustin Poirier during UFC 302. This Saturday, January 18, Islam Makhachev has the opportunity to surpass his mentor by beating Arman Tsarukyan. A victory at UFC 311 would bring his number of title defenses to four and make him history according to his trainer Javier Mendez. Former UFC fighter Matt Brown goes even further in the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer. According to him, a victory for Islam Makhachev against Arman Tsarukyan would put him in the -70kg GOAT discussion:
“It’s a very subjective thing, especially where they are right now. Like Jon Jones, who’s at the point where there’s not much debate anymore. The only debate is about steroids. This is literally the only argument for whether he is the greatest of all time or not. When you look at his track record, he’s the greatest of all time. Period. It’s just a fact. But I think that Islam, if he beats Arman, will still be in a phase where there is a debate.”
“For me personally, if Islam wins this fight, he is at the top of the list. Then you have to look at the details of his fight. Compared to Khabib, who is better? Or maybe BJ Penn. I think there is good reason to believe that BJ was the best lightweight of all time. Especially if Islam beats Arman, he will definitely be in the debate. It becomes a debate. We’re debating the details, aren’t we? We’ll see how he behaves against Arman, other things like that. Because it’s all going to come down to the details.”
Matt Brown doesn’t rely on losses
By breaking Khabib’s title defense record, Islam Makhachev will enter the lightweight GOAT debate according to Matt Brown. A debate between him, Khabib and BJ Penn. However, the veteran would put the current champion at the top of the list if he wins this Saturday. And this, although Islam Makhachev is not undefeated, unlike Khabib. For Matt Brown, defeats are not a strong argument. He explains:
“For me, personally, defeats don’t change that. We can’t say that Islam lost and Khabib didn’t. You lose when you fight at a higher level. If Khabib had faced BJ Penn in his first professional fight, BJ probably would have beaten him. If you play against guys at your level or below you win and if you play against guys above your level you lose. When you get to the top, you fight for the title, you’re the best in the world, and now it’s about defending the title to be the greatest of all time. We certainly need to include Islam in this conversation. On the contrary, this defeat shows me that we can overcome certain adversities.”
Matt Brown only seems to take into account losses in title defenses. At this level, Islam Makhachev is just as undefeated as Khabib. But as Matt Brown says, beating Arman Tsarukyan, the number 1 pound for pound will only enter into a debate which will come down to details. However, Islam Makhachev has already targeted his opponents in the event of victory this Saturday. By defeating them, he could definitely take off.
Could you consider Islam Makhachev the best lightweight in history if he beats Arman Tsarukyan?
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