Will you consider Islam the GOAT LW if he beats Arman and sets the LW title defence record?

[MarioLemieux]

I have a hard time considering a guy who is by all accounts not as good as Khabib to be the GOAT in his division just because he left early and Islam stuck around longer just to set the defence record. I don't need to get into Islam's loss, all his hard fought battles, all the times he got beaten up, all the accounts of Khabib dominating him in the gym by their head coach, and even Islam himself saying Khabib is better.

I use the eye test myself, I've watched all of their fights, Khabib is clearly the superior, more dominant fighter at all points in his career. Islam may be more well rounded, but so is pretty much everyone else in the UFC. Khabib's top control, chin and fight IQ are what seperate him leagues ahead. Islam has looked very mortal in serveral fights, lost a many rounds and even gotten knocked out by a journeyman. Khabib is the LW GOAT.

 

[SG123]

Hard to rate him the GOAT when by all accounts he would be beaten by his undefeated training partner, who did it all before him

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

No, he would have to defend the title much more imo.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Yes, because Islam isn't just an inferior version of Khabib. They have different fighting styles. So obviously is Islam does more than Khabib then he should be the goat.

There is more evidence for Islam if he beats more good guys. Also, Oliveira and Tsaryukan are better than the guys Khabib fought (the former pretty much proved it), so I don't know why that wouldn't be taken into account.

If Islam beat like 2 or 3 more good guys including Tsaryukan, I'd have no problems considering him the GOAT.

 

[Brigfa2]

No because he didn't made the headlines in all islamic countries but Khabib did after beating the disrespectful Conor

 

[Luthien]

Two defenses are against the same 145er, don't forget that

 

[waldywaldy]

Nah

it's still BJ Penn

Dude was the best lw in the world for a fucking decade. These new flavors of the month need a little bit of longevity to be in contention

 

[Dana's Moonface]

No, needs a couple more at least
Title defences aren't everything

No serious boxing fan has Wlad Klitschko as a top 5 heavy and he is in the top 3 ever for td

 

[checktheknuckles]

Islam's defenses feel dirty, since 2 of them were against a 145'er. Volk shouldn't ever have gotten a title shot at LW in the first place. Imagine DC ducking Stipe after teh 1st fight, or Usman ducking Leon after their first fight. That is waht Islam is doing to Charles.

 

[13Seconds]

There is no goat

 

[bjjwar]

Hard to rate him the GOAT when by all accounts he would be beaten by his undefeated training partner, who did it all before him

Not only that, Khabib completely destroyed everyone. Islam not only got KO'ed, but arguably even lost to a guy in the lower division and went to deep waters with Poirier. Khabib made Poirier look like it was his first fight.

He could win 50 straight, he can never pass Khabib who was just a much better fighter.

 

[chinarice]

Oh yeah 100 percent. Khabib's potential is irrelevant. His career is what it is.

 

[HHJ]

The monthly "is Khabib's legacy in shambles yet????!!!" Thread

 

[World eater]

If he defends one more time after Arman, it will be hard to argue. Sure, Khabib is better in the gym and he could have defended 3 more times - but he didn’t.

 

[VinceArch]

He'll be the LW GOAT, no doubt about it.

 

[GrantB13]

I want to say yes, but Khabib was more dominant and 2 of Islam's defenses are against the same guy from the division below. If he can get to 5 then it will be much more clear.

 

[chinarice]

I want to say yes, but Khabib was more dominant and 2 of Islam's defenses are against the same guy from the division below. If he can get to 5 then it will be much more clear.

Volk is just as good as Poirier, Gaethje or Conor, arguably better.

 

[MarioLemieux]

lol BJ's record is 16-14-2, his best wins at LW are Kenflo, Jens Pulver and Diego Sanchez

I'm not sure he's in my top 5 LW's

If he defends one more time after Arman, it will be hard to argue. Sure, Khabib is better in the gym and he could have defended 3 more times - but he didn’t.

Khabib's better in the cage as well throughout his whole career. Islam was never close to Khabib's level of dominance even when he was still fighting in the bush leagues.

I've watched all of their pro fights. It's not even particularly close.

 

[Shane-O-Mac]

the khabib fight people never mention

 

[HHJ]

The monthly "is Khabib's legacy in shambles yet????!!!" Thread

Nah

it's still BJ Penn

Dude was the best lw in the world for a fucking decade. These new flavors of the month need a little bit of longevity to be in contention

I mean he kept switching classes a bunch so he wasnt always in LW, and when he was he was beatin up Joe Stevenson and Diego Sanchez, not just Sean Sherk lol