Can Islam surpass Khabib?

[hbombbisping]

Khabib is just built differently than Islam.

Meaner, more calculated, more genetically gifted.

Pretty clear who the alpha male is here.

 

[BoxingFan653]

Khabibs career is like Tyson retiring after beating Spinks in 88 or like Anderson retiring after beating Dan Henderson. On one hand very smart of khabib to leave before the downfall but on the other hand his resume is too light and depends on his fans assuming he would have won for years to come.

To me Islam will surpass khabib based on the resume and not keeping everything theoretical

 

[OmegaRugal]

Poirier did as good as he did because Islam has a dog in him that Khabib doesn't. Khabib's plan was to always take his opponents down and start smashing. Islam likes the fight though, he doesn't mind going tit for tat as we've since seen.

Maybe maybe. We can’t say for certain either way.

But it is easy to assume Portier got better.

Look at UNO vs Penn 1 vs 2
Look at Cain ve JDS 1 vs 2
Hughes vs GSP 1 vs 2
Whitaker vs Adesayna 1 vs 2

Even when the first fight winner wins again … it doesn’t always go as easy as the first time.

 

[fishbisquit]

Islam's resume is always better i can't see the argument against that.

on the (small) chance he beats JDM on Saturday he is 100% ahead of Khabib by then.

small chance? Islam gonna mop that floor with him.

 

[hswrestler]

Islam already has a better on paper resume, so if you aren't saying he's better now you never will.
The people who put Khabib over him will always glaze him for dominance and "winning over Islam in training" and Islam going up to HW and submitting jon Jones wouldn't even change that.

There's an argument for it for sure, but from an eye test Khabib has looked better.
Even on paper, its pretty similar when you consider how much Islam struggled in his best wins.
I'd say Islams best wins are Oliveira (low diff), Volk on short notice (low diff), Poirier (medium diff), and Volk (high diff)
roughly on par with Khabib's resume Rda (low diff), Gaethje (low diff), Poirier (low diff)
If Islam defeats JDM, I'll put Islam's resume ahead for sure

 

[Caio]

He already did. He's a much better mma fighter.

 

[oldschoolmmafan]

H

Completely made up.

Abdulmanap said Islam had better striking and he listened more.

Never did he say he was better overall. For Abdulmanap to shower praise on Khabib, his son, would completely go against the ethos of humble Dagestani Muslim father.

He stated multiple times Islam was more well rounded and learnt much quicker. More well rounded with possible higher fight IQ?. Seems he thought Islam better IMO.

 

[VinceArch]

Maybe maybe. We can’t say for certain either way.

But it is easy to assume Portier got better.

Look at UNO vs Penn 1 vs 2
Look at Cain ve JDS 1 vs 2
Hughes vs GSP 1 vs 2
Whitaker vs Adesayna 1 vs 2

Even when the first fight winner wins again … it doesn’t always go as easy as the first time.

Frankie/BJ 2
Aldo/Frankie 2
Pettis/Benson 2
Anderson/Franklin 2
Shogun/Hendo 2

I don't think that argument makes much sense. Khabib was literally screaming at Islam to take Dustin down and not engage him on the feet, something Islam ignored throughout the majority of the fight. I think Islam would be wise to not trade punches with JDM though.

 

[hswrestler]

Nobody has adjusted to the Dagestani style.

It's that Islam was never as good as Khabib, nor are his cousins. This is no secret to any of them and they all freely admit it.

Even when Islam was coming up he nearly lost a bunch of fights.

He's well trained but Khabib is more of a natural and has more of a meanstreak.

Khabib never had world class grappling coaches like Craig jones break down his grappling and figure out counters. After this weekend Islam would've fought Craig jones fighter 3 times

 

[Preston broadus]

Dont stress out over it

 

[JayTeeM]

I always expected Khabib to one day get pieced up by a striker who could stop his take down. Unfortunately he retired early and we never saw a matchup which could have troubled him. Who knows, maybe that match up would never have come. I always felt Khabib looked a little heavy on his feet and that there were holes in his striking.. just no one could keep the fight on the feet long enough to expose it.

Islam is a much more technical striker so it doesn't bother him if he isnt successful with the take down where as Khabib would just continue to spam them until one was successful.

 

[GOATRankings]

Eternal debate! I think we need two view opposition.

Khabib was mauling, charismatic never bled, always moving forward. His overall aura is superior to 99% of fighters.

I think the second belt is not that huge of a deal if the opponent is inferior (again, opposition, noone except fans remember Conor's second belt opponent but everyone remembers his win against Aldo).

But ! Islam ended Oliveira and Volk's huge winstreaks. If Islam beats JDM, he will again end a huge win streak (JDM 10 years undefeated). These achievements are superior. In comparaison, Khabib's biggest win is against Conor, and he had already lost to Nate Diaz.

Islam has accomplished much more in the UFC but, Khabib is undefeated. Maybe none of both is destined to be better than the other, but together, they are meant to make history

 

[VinceArch]

Eternal debate! I think we need two view opposition.

Khabib was mauling, charismatic never bled, always moving forward. His overall aura is superior to 99% of fighters.

I think the second belt is not that huge of a deal if the opponent is inferior (again, opposition, noone except fans remember Conor's second belt opponent but everyone remembers his win against Aldo).

But ! Islam ended Oliveira and Volk's huge winstreaks. If Islam beats JDM, he will again end a huge win streak (JDM 10 years undefeated). These achievements are superior. In comparaison, Khabib's biggest win is against Conor, and he had already lost to Nate Diaz.

Islam has accomplished much more in the UFC but, Khabib is undefeated. Maybe none of both is destined to be better than the other, but together, they are meant to make history

/thread.

 

[Mmmmmmma1234]

There's an argument for it for sure, but from an eye test Khabib has looked better.
Even on paper, its pretty similar when you consider how much Islam struggled in his best wins.
I'd say Islams best wins are Oliveira (low diff), Volk on short notice (low diff), Poirier (medium diff), and Volk (high diff)
roughly on par with Khabib's resume Rda (low diff), Gaethje (low diff), Poirier (low diff)
If Islam defeats JDM, I'll put Islam's resume ahead for sure

Sure if cherry pick it to top 3 wins each. Islam has 16 ufc wins to 13 wins. Islam has 5 title wins to 4. Islam has 10 ufc ranked wins to 8 ranked wins. Common opponents: Poirier choked out R4 vs choked out r3, Tibau: 57sec ko vs a debated UD.

So again on paper he's done more already.

 

[23rd Century Sweetheart]

if he gains and defends this WW belt i think its clear cut. Khabib left it too hard with his record + title fights + dominance

 

[BangBang]

They can coexist as the greatest lightweights to ever do it

 

[UppercutFromHades]

If Islam wins tomorrow, he definitely surpasses Khabib legacy wise.

 

[fractal]

As in defend his title 3 times? I have a strange feeling he will do that soon if he hasn't already lol

 

[fractal]

If Islam wins tomorrow, he definitely surpasses Khabib legacy wise.

Why do you think he hasn't already?

More UFC wins, more title defences, IIRC beating opponents with better records too. Does one loss discount that?

 

[Rampage_Jackson]

Islam already has a better resume IMO