Khabib's 29-0 record gives him mystique that still looms heavily over the MMA world

[AndrewGolota48]

Agreed. Khabib is the most dominant MMA fighter ever. He was never rocked, never bled and arguably never in any other kind of serious trouble in all of his fights.

Jones, however, bled many times, clearly lost 3 rounds (and entire fight) to Reyes, had a poor performance against a very average fighter in OSP and left the Gustaffson fight on a stretcher - not to mention multiple drug test failures. That's why I disagree with those who consider Jones a GOAT contender. Great fighter, but not the greatest of all time.

Ah cool, I see, so if Khabib had kept fighting and defended his belt 15 times in a row, his greatness would actually go down if he bled in even one of those title defenses. Makes perfect sense.

 

[wwkirk]

Love him or hate him, Khabib is by far the most discussed retired GOAT candidate and it's not even close. Also has the second biggest social media following in MMA history.

It's like every card someone is discussing whether Khabib would beat or lose to X fighter.

I don't think the hate and love even comes from xenophobia or nationalism as people like often cite, it comes from having a spotless record with no drug test failures and not even a cut in his career.

Fans of him want to see a fighter who is seemingly invincible remain invincible, haters can't stand that he walked away from the sport with his zero in tact.

Whether you think he deserves the praise because he destroyed fighters at the highest level, or you think his record is padded, his record has made him a very divisive fighter with the most mystique in MMA and it's the reason why people are still talking. Why there is currently a Dagestan vs. the world mentality in the sport which has become the hot topic.

His Combat Sambo record is also a part of this where he was around 200-1 because it's a very similar sport with his loss being a close decision where not much happened like the Tibau fight that people cite, when in reality, if close decisions were ruled against other great fighters they would all have many losses on their records.

Sure Jones has a much more impressive resume, but he doesn't have the zero, we've seen him bleed, and most importantly all of his infractions have taken a toll on his mystique. Love him or hate him, Khabib's 29-0 still looms large over the MMA world 5 years after his retirement.

It must have been said before: He’s the Rocky Marciano of MMA.

 

[World eater]

I was wondering what was that thing looming heavily over us all, turns out it’s just Khabib’s record. Thanks for the heads up sherbro.

 

[markantony20]

He has made people value their 0 FAR too much

 

[ILove4MinutesHyuna]

Its not just the zero, Jones has a zero. Difference is there are no pictures of Khabib bloodied and bruised after a fight.

 

[Clark Rogers]

Its not just the zero, Jones has a zero. Difference is there are no pictures of Khabib bloodied and bruised after a fight.

Mightve had one of those had he had 11 more title defense matches to choose from.

 

[Ares Black]

Khabib Nurmagomedov isn't even an overall GOAT candidate.


GOAT LW maybe, and that's highly debatable.

 

[Ares Black]

A question:



What are Khabib's Top 5 best wins?

 

[Ares Black]

Agreed. Khabib is the most dominant MMA fighter ever. He was never rocked, never bled and arguably never in any other kind of serious trouble in all of his fights.

His level of competition was extremely low.

Jones, however, bled many times, clearly lost 3 rounds (and entire fight) to Reyes, had a poor performance against a very average fighter in OSP and left the Gustaffson fight on a stretcher - not to mention multiple drug test failures. That's why I disagree with those who consider Jones a GOAT contender. Great fighter, but not the greatest of all time.

His level of competition was extremely high.

 

[10000yearsold]

More than the record, it is the way he dominated the top of the division. That record is a bit padded, great, but padded.

Jones has 16 UFC title defenses. GSP has 9. Khabib has 3, he is a great one but not the greatest.

If anything, GSP and Jones loom and will loom heavily over the MMA world for decades to come.

While ufc is the premiere mma promotion, that stat is not without an asterisk. Contendership in the UFC is hardly a standard of fighting the best of the best. The utc has consistently prioritized entertainment/dramatics above the integrity of sport. Khabib dominated his division in no less great fashion than a gsp, jones, Islam, Aldo, Volk, etc. that’s my opinion. Their title defense records are no less padded with near nonsense fights.

More important tho is the lasting impact of Khabib’s technical brilliance in being able to usher forth a hand-crafted predecessor to dominate as his successor.

 

[Bork Neslar]

It's not "mystique"; it's shadyness. Everything about that guy before and after his retirement seems shady af.

 

[Harlekin]

 

[sonofjay817]

Love him or hate him, Khabib is by far the most discussed retired GOAT candidate and it's not even close. Also has the second biggest social media following in MMA history.

It's like every card someone is discussing whether Khabib would beat or lose to X fighter.

I don't think the hate and love even comes from xenophobia or nationalism as people like often cite, it comes from having a spotless record with no drug test failures and not even a cut in his career.

Fans of him want to see a fighter who is seemingly invincible remain invincible, haters can't stand that he walked away from the sport with his zero in tact.

Whether you think he deserves the praise because he destroyed fighters at the highest level, or you think his record is padded, his record has made him a very divisive fighter with the most mystique in MMA and it's the reason why people are still talking. Why there is currently a Dagestan vs. the world mentality in the sport which has become the hot topic.

His Combat Sambo record is also a part of this where he was around 200-1 because it's a very similar sport with his loss being a close decision where not much happened like the Tibau fight that people cite, when in reality, if close decisions were ruled against other great fighters they would all have many losses on their records.

Sure Jones has a much more impressive resume, but he doesn't have the zero, we've seen him bleed, and most importantly all of his infractions have taken a toll on his mystique. Love him or hate him, Khabib's 29-0 still looms large over the MMA world 5 years after his retirement.

Love him or hate him, Khabib is by far the most discussed retired GOAT candidate and it's not even close. Also has the second biggest social media following in MMA history.

It's like every card someone is discussing whether Khabib would beat or lose to X fighter.

I don't think the hate and love even comes from xenophobia or nationalism as people like often cite, it comes from having a spotless record with no drug test failures and not even a cut in his career.

Fans of him want to see a fighter who is seemingly invincible remain invincible, haters can't stand that he walked away from the sport with his zero in tact.

Whether you think he deserves the praise because he destroyed fighters at the highest level, or you think his record is padded, his record has made him a very divisive fighter with the most mystique in MMA and it's the reason why people are still talking. Why there is currently a Dagestan vs. the world mentality in the sport which has become the hot topic.

His Combat Sambo record is also a part of this where he was around 200-1 because it's a very similar sport with his loss being a close decision where not much happened like the Tibau fight that people cite, when in reality, if close decisions were ruled against other great fighters they would all have many losses on their records.

Sure Jones has a much more impressive resume, but he doesn't have the zero, we've seen him bleed, and most importantly all of his infractions have taken a toll on his mystique. Love him or hate him, Khabib's 29-0 still looms large over the MMA world 5 years after his retirement.

Not even a cut? Not even a bruise. Heck, I don't remember a red spot on his face, nothing indicating he'd just been in a fight. Its extremely remarkable.

 

[Sms_productions713]

Jon jones didnt need to go 13-0 vs a bunch of 1-6 fighters to prove he is the greatest.

Khabib literally has a jason reinhardt record with a few good names.

 

[Hymen Crusher]

Respect him for retiring with a nice record and a bunch of money. Like Mayweather will never be in the best to.do it conversation.

 

[PaddyO'malley]

Mi yute Big Mac 29-0 29kos 19 ovahandz 10 via 1-2 pull counter all 1st rd Beebz need fi sit him AZZ down B4 Big Mac get sober an' smash more headz

 

[JKS]

Agreed. Khabib is the most dominant MMA fighter ever. He was never rocked, never bled and arguably never in any other kind of serious trouble in all of his fights.

Jones, however, bled many times, clearly lost 3 rounds (and entire fight) to Reyes, had a poor performance against a very average fighter in OSP and left the Gustaffson fight on a stretcher - not to mention multiple drug test failures. That's why I disagree with those who consider Jones a GOAT contender. Great fighter, but not the greatest of all time.

Here is the problem with your way of thinking. You're comparing Khabib who had 4 title fights, one of whom was a average fighter in Iaquinta vs Jones who's had 17 title fights. That is a lot more high level opposition which means a lot more of a chance to show vulnerability and have close fights. The longer a fighter fights, the more of a chance they are figured out and have close fights. Let's see how Khabibs recrod would look after 17 title fights.

Jones had 4 more title fights than Khabib had career UFC fights. And you're making some comparison that Khabib was more dominant when he didn't even come close to fighting as much top guys as Jones or had close to the number of fights?

BTW, that OSP fights was complete domination 50-45 and 50-44.

Here is a comparison, lets compare first 13 fights vs first 13 fights. Jon went 12-DQ with 9 finishes, never lost one round, and defended his belt 5 times. Not only that, fought considerably stronger opponents. And after that he continued to dominate LHW for 7 more years.

Jon is goat. Khabib isn't top 5

 

[FreddieRoachsVoice]

Agreed. Khabib is the most dominant MMA fighter ever. He was never rocked, never bled and arguably never in any other kind of serious trouble in all of his fights.

Jones, however, bled many times, clearly lost 3 rounds (and entire fight) to Reyes, had a poor performance against a very average fighter in OSP and left the Gustaffson fight on a stretcher - not to mention multiple drug test failures. That's why I disagree with those who consider Jones a GOAT contender. Great fighter, but not the greatest of all time.

You conveniently left out the fact that Khabib doesn't even have a top 30 calibre resume in the sport. It's pretty easy to look dominant when you cherry pick opponents that are tailor made for your strengths.

If you're so impressed by quantity over quality, is Travis Fulton in your top 10 GOATs then? I mean 255 wins and only 8 decisions man, hard to beat that

 

[Versez]

Love him or hate him, Khabib is by far the most discussed retired GOAT candidate and it's not even close. Also has the second biggest social media following in MMA history.

It's like every card someone is discussing whether Khabib would beat or lose to X fighter.

I don't think the hate and love even comes from xenophobia or nationalism as people like often cite, it comes from having a spotless record with no drug test failures and not even a cut in his career.

Fans of him want to see a fighter who is seemingly invincible remain invincible, haters can't stand that he walked away from the sport with his zero in tact.

Whether you think he deserves the praise because he destroyed fighters at the highest level, or you think his record is padded, his record has made him a very divisive fighter with the most mystique in MMA and it's the reason why people are still talking. Why there is currently a Dagestan vs. the world mentality in the sport which has become the hot topic.

His Combat Sambo record is also a part of this where he was around 200-1 because it's a very similar sport with his loss being a close decision where not much happened like the Tibau fight that people cite, when in reality, if close decisions were ruled against other great fighters they would all have many losses on their records.

Sure Jones has a much more impressive resume, but he doesn't have the zero, we've seen him bleed, and most importantly all of his infractions have taken a toll on his mystique. Love him or hate him, Khabib's 29-0 still looms large over the MMA world 5 years after his retirement.

Sounds like some shitty AI scripted post. go fuck yourself.

 

[Superzorro]

Only if you just started watching MMA like most of Gen-Z. Outside of that, I don’t see why you would particularly reflect that much on Khabib’s career. And I disagree. I think we see more people talking about Jones, Fedor and GSP.