Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev miss out as UFC icon names shock lightweight GOAT

01/15/2025 12:05 PM

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev are brilliant fighters, but according to one MMA legend, there’s another lightweight who might be the greatest of all time.

It’s fair to say the former champion in question has a fantastic case to call himself the best 155-pounder to have ever graced the octagon.

Matt Brown says B.J. Penn could be ahead of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev in the lightweight GOAT discussion

Matt Brown has undeniably cemented his place in UFC folklore, with the warrior delivering more than his fair share of epic fights.

Now, he’s proving himself as a fantastic analyst, giving an interesting breakdown of the lightweight division.

On Saturday night, Islam Makhachev returns to action, in an eagerly-anticipated rematch with Arman Tsarukyan, at UFC 311.

And with a victory, ‘The Immortal’ believes the Dagestani would be right up there with Khabib Nurmagomedov as the best fighter the division has ever seen.

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However, as good as those two athletes are, Brown thinks that B.J. Penn could still edge them out as the lightweight GOAT.

He told MMA Fighting: “For me personally, Islam wins this fight; he’s at the top of that list. Then, you have to look into the nitty-gritty details of him vs Khabib, who’s greater. Maybe B.J. still. I think there’s still a good argument that B.J. is the greatest ever.”

Nate Diaz brands Islam Makhachev 'Ewok' and accuses him of lying in incredible rant ahead of UFC 311

While Makhachev is concentrating on his fight at the weekend, he’ll likely struggle to avoid what Nate Diaz has said about him.

At UFC 310, the Stockton brawler and the Russian’s team launched water bottles at one another.

After the Dagestani gave his version of events, Diaz hit the roof, comparing Makhachev to an ‘Ewok’ from Star Wars, and claiming he lied about what transpired that day.

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