Can Islam surpass Khabib?

[Karate Kid]

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.

better fighter. better resume. better legacy. Khabib is an all time great but Islam already surpassed him and now the difference is distinctly. i wonder what that dork Hbombbisping will say now

 

[UppercutFromHades]

Islam is very possibly the GOAT.

 

[carlosdegello]

all the footage showing islam losing to khabib in sparring is old, and maybe ... "maybe" because out of respoect, islam didn't take it too seriously ... he already surpases khabib many fights ago

 

[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.

After yesterday’s performance and absolute domination by Islam … I’m now even more impressed by Dustin’s improved grappling.

 

[VinceArch]

After yesterday’s performance and absolute domination by Islam … I’m now even more impressed by Dustin’s improved grappling.

Dustin's grappling has always been pretty underrated. He's not Demian Maia but people like to ac like he knows nothing and that is simply false.

 

[Pequeño Corey]

Their resumes are dead even imo at this current point in time

A 2nd belt a weight class above where he spent his entire career easily puts Islam ahead of Khabib in terms of legacy

Yea but it’s JDM. And we all know that Islam will duck the up and comers to face mummy Usman. His juice dried up when he bailed on LW, leaving Ilia and rematch with Arman on the table.

 

[Angelassassin53]

Yea but it’s JDM. And we all know that Islam will duck the up and comers to face mummy Usman. His juice dried up when he bailed on LW, leaving Ilia and rematch with Arman on the table.

Topuria is not big enough to stop from getting grapple fucked. If he fights Usman yeah, that's major duck status and akin to picking a fight with Miocics corpse. Shavkhat or Morales would be impressive asf and honestly be enough for me to consider Islam as the #1 GOAT. I still think GSP and DJ are the most highly skilled fighters we've ever seen, but Islam would have an absolutely insane resume with a title defense against anyone but Usman

 

[Pequeño Corey]

Topuria is not big enough to stop from getting grapple fucked. If he fights Usman yeah, that's major duck status and akin to picking a fight with Miocics corpse. Shavkhat or Morales would be impressive asf and honestly be enough for me to consider Islam as the #1 GOAT. I still think GSP and DJ are the most highly skilled fighters we've ever seen, but Islam would have an absolutely insane resume with a title defense against anyone but Usman

What is this resume you speak of? He didn’t nail the coffin at LW, and one defense at WW, whoever it may be, doesn’t put him anywhere near WW GOATs such as GSP, Usman, or Hughes. So if he’s not the GOAT at any specific weight class, how is he a GOAT at all?

Champ champ is it’s own category that should be applauded, but if you ain’t puttin up title defense numbers like MM, Anderson, GSP, Bones, Aldo, etc.; what exactly is your claim to the throne? Champ champ means that you moved up for a (usually) favorable match up and bailed before you could dominate that weight class.

 

[Hog-train]

In terms of accomplishment maybe. But Khabib is a better fighter though.

 

[AmbassadorFright]

He already has. Volk and Oliveira are better wins than any of Khabib's whole resumé. Khabib won the belt off a 14-7 real estate agent who took the fight on a day's notice

 

[Angelassassin53]

What is this resume you speak of? He didn’t nail the coffin at LW, and one defense at WW, whoever it may be, doesn’t put him anywhere near WW GOATs such as GSP, Usman, or Hughes. So if he’s not the GOAT at any specific weight class, how is he a GOAT at all?

Champ champ is it’s own category that should be applauded, but if you ain’t puttin up title defense numbers like MM, Anderson, GSP, Bones, Aldo, etc.; what exactly is your claim to the throne? Champ champ means that you moved up for a (usually) favorable match up and bailed before you could dominate that weight class.

Usmans entire reign as champ features fights against Masvidal 2x, Covington 2x, and Gilbert Burns lol Lawler has a better title reign

As for Islam, 2 wins against Volk, Oliveira, and Poirier while breaking the LW title defense record and tying Silva for most consecutive wins in the promotion while capturing a 2nd belt. His 18 fights over 10 years in the UFC is also a much stronger strength of schedule than Khabibs 13 in 8 years. People are enamored by his undefeated record and put a lot of stock into Mak getting KOed. Meanwhile if the Tibau decision went the right way, I think the shine gets taken off Khabib by the casual viewer and it's much easier to see that Islam has surpassed him at this point

 

[lenbiasgoat]

man how any of u have islam over khabib is crazy to me.. only thing ill give islam is he moved up he has that over khabib but other than that not close.. khabib beat most the guys while handing out major damage to his comp. islam while a great grappler in his own right is not khabib. again how anyone thinks otherwise is nuts

 

[Pequeño Corey]

Usmans entire reign as champ features fights against Masvidal 2x, Covington 2x, and Gilbert Burns lol Lawler has a better title reign

As for Islam, 2 wins against Volk, Oliveira, and Poirier while breaking the LW title defense record and tying Silva for most consecutive wins in the promotion while capturing a 2nd belt. His 18 fights over 10 years in the UFC is also a much stronger strength of schedule than Khabibs 13 in 8 years. People are enamored by his undefeated record and put a lot of stock into Mak getting KOed. Meanwhile if the Tibau decision went the right way, I think the shine gets taken off Khabib by the casual viewer and it's much easier to see that Islam has surpassed him at this point

This consecutive win record keeps getting brought up, but you guys all neglect to acknowledge that Anderson did it while holding the strap, and the majority of those are actual title defenses. Does that not matter to you? Seems like a major detail to ignore. 10 title defenses to Islam’s 4, and two other guys acheived 3.

 

[cburm]

If Islam defeats JDM this weekend, he will be champion at two weight classes, something Khabib has never done. He already has a dominating victory over Charles Oliveira who ran through Khabib's best wins and beat one of the best 140s of all time in Volk twice.

While Islam does have an argument on paper, he's looked frankly underwhelming? Against Volk and Poirier Islam did not show the same domination that we've seen from Khabib and we've seen him hurt and knocked out. Even against Oliveira, Islam wasn't able to achieve much with his grappling and got hit with a nasty upkick when he was on top.

If Islam continues to collect wins, I can see him surpassing Khabib's resume on paper. Maybe in 10 years or so when we all age out, newer fans might point rank Islam over Khabib assuming they even care at this point, however I don't think he'll ever surpass Khabib in the eyes of those who have seen both.

I think Islam and Khabib are close in terms of quality. Khabib has looked more dominant but Islam has defeated better fighters. I have Khabib ahead for now, but if Islam could dominate JDM and Ilia, he can move ahead of Khabib.
By dominate, I'd mean a finish or a 4-1/5-0 decision without being in any significant trouble of being knocked out . I don't think Islam would Khabib style maul either Ilia or JDM due to their quality and because they are more prepared for the dagestani style than the fighters of Khabib's era.

I guess Khabib has looked better in the gym than Islam and I believe he was the better fighter when Khabib was active but Khabib was also the older more experienced fighter at the time.

Edit: After the win over Jack at 170, Islam has a more impressive resume and frankly I think the Islam that fought Jack on 11/15/2025 as good as or not better than any iteration of Khabib

Can Jesus or the prophet Mohammad surpass khabib?? Who was better was it khabib.

 

[hbombbisping]

man how any of u have islam over khabib is crazy to me.. only thing ill give islam is he moved up he has that over khabib but other than that not close.. khabib beat most the guys while handing out major damage to his comp. islam while a great grappler in his own right is not khabib. again how anyone thinks otherwise is nuts

They're a bunch of salty ex Conor fans. This is all they have left

Islam won't even argue against Khabib being better, nor will anyone at Eagles or Javier.