Reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev said he believes former division champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is the greatest lightweight in history.
Makhachev told TSN:
Who is better: me or Khabib? I think Khabib is the best lightweight fighter in history. Because he was tearing all his opponents apart, he didn't take it to a split decision by the judges or close fights. He was just killing everybody in the octagon, you know? That's why he's a top lightweight. But not only because of the fights, he's also a great man, a great personality.
On October 21, Makhachev will have his second fight against the league's featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. Makhachev has 24 wins and one loss on his record. Volkanovski has 26 wins and two losses.
Khabib last entered the octagon against Justin Gaethje in October 2020 at UFC 254. Nurmagomedov won that fight by technical submission in the second round. After this fight, he announced the end of his career. The Russian fighter has 29 wins and no losses in mixed martial arts.
