If Islam beats Arman decisively, does he become the greatest lightweight ever?

[John Scaler]

Islam is already the GOAT LW. If he wins his next fight, then he will only be widening the gap between him and Khabib who is the 2nd best LW.

 

[Dana's Moonface]

No, because it isn't just about title defences
That can't be the only measure. Sure it's a big point, but not the only

If a fighter comes along in an easy division in the future and has 10 plus title defences, it doesn't elevate him above someone like GSP who has 9(?)

Charles at the time is the best win on either guys record, but khabib dominated a prime RDA, beat a younger less beat up Dustin way easier and also handled the rapist when he was seen as a danger. It's easy to make light of that fight now, but at the time MANY sided with the abuser and it was the biggest fight in mma history. Islam will never feel such pressure to win

Now, if he goes on to defend another couple of times? Then it may be hard not to elevate him

I still think Khabib was a better fighter in his prime. Not as well rounded, but much more tenacious with suffocating grappling. So even if Islam goes down as greater? He would need to show another level for me to rank him better head to head

 

[Hdfi]

He would break the record for title defenses but still have fewer top 10 LW wins than Oliveira, BJ Penn, Benson Henderson, Gomi, Alvarez and Khabib.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

He hasn't even fought 6 of the current top-10

 

[HNIC215]

We need to normalize not calling fighters "greats" until they retire, and their body of work speaks for itself.

This method of calling different fighters "The Greatest" every other weekend is tiresome and corny.

 

[kingmob6]

When you compare them I think there 2 factors that are going to hurt Islam and make Khabib the greater light weight. 1. Is Islam KO lost to Adriano Martins ( who went on to lose his next 5 fights) and as everyone know Khabib retired undefeated. The second part that hurt Islam is many people felt he lost his first fight with Volkanovski. Were Khabib dominated basically ever one in front of him.

No sane person thought islam lost figh to volk.
It wasnt that close.

 

[GrantB13]

I still feel like Khabib's level was something else. Islam has looked and HAS BEEN vulnerable in a few fights. Breaking the LW title defense record would be a plus, but unfortunately two of them are against someone from a divison down.

 

[IronGolem007]

I think prime Khabib would finish Islam but in terms of one's body of work, it'd be pretty close.

Khabib:
1. McGregor
2. Poirier
3. Gaethje
4. RDA
5. Tibau

Islam:
1. Oliveira
2. Volkanovski II
3. Poirier
4. Tsarukyan II
5. Volkanovski I

Charles is clearly a better win than anyone on Khabib's record but Khabib also faced a better version of Dustin and beat him far more dominantly so...idk

No.

Islam already admits ... "In the cage, no one beats Khabib ..."

/ Thread

 

[Fight Professor]

Islam actually finished Tibau. But he needs to beat at least 1 new top LW to make that claim. We have seen the Tsarukyan fight already.

 

[Gregoire1]

Top-3 wins of Islam are already better. Khabib never faced opposition like Oliveira and Volk. Conor at first??? You just kidding me...