Joe Rogan thinks Islam Makhachev’s skillset has gone above and beyond his mentor’s.
The Dagestani has entered the new year as the UFC’s eleventh two-division champion, having achieved the feat at Madison Square Garden last November.
After a dominant reign at lightweight, Makhachev comfortably beat Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 to become the new welterweight king.
In doing so, Makhachev added an accolade to his résumé that the great Khabib Nurmagomedov did not attempt, only increasing comparisons between the two teammates and fellow countrymen.
According to Rogan, there is one clear attribute that separates the two.
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Do you agree with Artur Beterbiev that Islam Makhachev is better than Khabib Nurmagomedov?
Khabib is widely considered the UFC's GOAT, but he may have ended up moulding the man who takes that throne from him…
Joe Rogan compares Islam Makhachev’s striking to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s
Nurmagomedov retired after beating Justin Gaethje in 2020, ending his career with an unblemished 29-0 record. Some believe ‘The Eagle’ hung up the gloves too soon to be considered among the candidates for GOAT status.
And his claim to the top spot in lightweight history has come under threat from Makhachev after he fulfilled plans to succeed Nurmagomedov in the division.
Plenty of fans and analysts have joined the group who believe the still-active Dagestani is superior, and Rogan recently highlighted the key skill that Makhachev has over the retired legend.
“Khabib is without doubt one of the all-time greats,” Rogan said. “But the difference between Islam and Khabib is Islam is elite standup-wise.
“Khabib had very good standup, but Islam knocked out (Alexander) Volkanovski with a head kick. That is not in Khabib’s repertoire.
“Islam is on another level. It is like one more level above,” he continued.
“He can knock you out standing, he can knock you out on the ground, he can submit you, he can take you down, he’s f—— huge for the weight class — there are so many aspects.”
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Joe Rogan thinks Islam Makhachev has surpassed Khabib Nurmagomedov’s greatness
More than just boasting a superior striking arsenal, Rogan believes Makhachev is now above Nurmagomedov on the list of all-time UFC fighters.
That debate has been raging on in recent years, and it was the welterweight king’s short-notice domination of Renato Moicano that led him to seeing Makhachev as greater than his mentor.
“I mean, the kind of pressure that’s on a champion to come in and take a fight against an unheralded challenger, a guy who’s not supposed to win, a guy who’s very dangerous and has nothing to lose. Moicano was playing with house money,” Rogan said at UFC 311.
“And to perform that way and just immediately sink up a submission on a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt to the ground (is incredible).
“I think you’re right,” he added, when Jon Anik suggested Makhachev has surpassed Nurmagomedov.
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