Can Islam surpass Khabib?

[UppercutFromHades]

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?

I didn't say he hasn't. I said if he gets the W/2 weight champ, he DEFINITELY surpasses him. This is called a conditional sentence. It would put it beyond doubt. Peace.

 

[hswrestler]

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.

just comparing prime v prime. I'm not including islams losses or his struggles against barnouai and Chris wade 10 years ago or khabibs record fighting bums prior to UFC.
Just comparing islams recent performances to khabib's best known ones

 

[OmegaRugal]

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.

Could it be that maybe Islam was like “ brotha I’m trying. But each time he countering and hitting me with elbows. Dustin got better”

Just a thought.

 

[VinceArch]

Could it be that maybe Islam was like “ brotha I’m trying. But each time he countering and hitting me with elbows. Dustin got better”

Just a thought.

Perhaps but because Dustin only sat on his strikes when he realized Islam was brawling with him did it work and even then, it wasn't a huge success.

 

[OmegaRugal]

Perhaps but because Dustin only sat on his strikes when he realized Islam was brawling with him did it work and even then, it wasn't a huge success.

It worked enough for him to put up a better fight than he did vs Khabib. And even still Dustin admitted he couldn’t fully let his hands go because he was always worried about the takedown threat. Said so this week.

I truly believe Dustin improved his TDD/Striking.

This version maybe wins against Khabib.

We will never know.

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

Islam did more but Khabib is just more famous

 

[El Fernas]

4 title defenses, 3 title defenses...already did, getting the WW belt its just icing on the cake for LW supremacy.

 

[JustOnce]

I think Islam has already done more. Islam just didn't have that aura that Khabib or BJ had at their peak.

I personally rate Islam better than Khabib as a fighter. Khabib lost that Tibau fight.

 

[n.diazismylife1999]

Khabib is just built differently than Islam.

Meaner, more calculated, more genetically gifted.

Pretty clear who the alpha male is here.

This is the kind of argumentation I expect from Sherdog, well done.

 

[hswrestler]

Yep this islam we saw tonight is as good as or not better than any iteration of khabib

 

[kuroro]

No.

Their coach and Islam say Khabib has always been the hammer and Islam the nail against Islam in sparring.

Islam struggled against many fighters like Wade, Barnoui, Martins, Poirier and Volk

Khabib is flat out better

Can Islam become more accomplished despite his ko loss to a jobber and less round per round dominance? Yes.

But we can't conflate being more accomplished with being as good a fighter.

being more accomplished is what makes you a better professional fighter. there's nothing else that matters.

 

[MGS]

If he wasn't already, tonight cemented it.

 

[UppercutFromHades]

Now unequivocally the greater fighter.

 

[spooNN]

Did.

 

[RedMountain]

khabib will probably win in a fight, but Islam already got more achivements.

 

[The XL]

Islam is a better fighter than Khabib. His striking is miles better.

 

[Orochimaru 大蛇丸]

khabib will probably win in a fight, but Islam already got more achivements.

Islam would be a nightmare matchup for Khabib… he’d be able to defend the grappling and has better striking

 

[RedMountain]

Islam would be a nightmare matchup for Khabib… he’d be able to defend the grappling and has better striking

maybe you are right, Islam has evolved. Also, his cardio looks endless at WW.

 

[shunyata]

If he wasn't already, tonight cemented it.

And Khabib couldn't be happier for his friend and teammate.

He was beaming, great moment in sports history.

Islam would be a nightmare matchup for Khabib… he’d be able to defend the grappling and has better striking

Not sure if serious, he's been kicking the shit out of him in the gym for years. But teaching him all his secrets every step of the way.

 

[DrRodentia]

I think skill for skill, Islam has been the superior overall fighter for a long time.

He just doesn't have the intangibles like ferocity or intensity that Khabib had. A much more calm and calculated fighter.

Merab is more similar to Khabib than Islam is (obviously Khabib had significantly more finishing ability than Merab does). Those two don't mind letting people back up just to drag them back down and break their will. Islam doesn't let people back up once they are down. He's happy to control and work from there.