Brendan Schaub does not rank Islam Makhachev among his 10 greatest UFC fighters. Before Makhachev’s UFC 330 title defense against Ian Machado Garry, Schaub argued that the champion’s record lacks enough prime, elite opponents.
Watch Schaub’s complete discussion below:
Schaub Gives His Full Assessment Of Makhachev’s Record
“Again, it’s not his fault he’s a product of the times. Like, it’s not his fault that the guys he fought weren’t in their prime.”
Schaub then reviewed the major names on Makhachev’s winning streak:
“So, his first win at welterweight, beat JDM. How’s JDM doing these days? You know, he defended a shot against Renato Moicano. You know, right? You’re going to be GOAT beating Moicano? But also, Moicano, more power to him. That’s because Arman Tsarukyan hurt his back, fell out, so Moicano’s a late replacement. Still not Islam’s fault, but it is what it is. Dustin Poirier in 2024, okay. And then Volkanovski, who’s not really 55, struggled with him in the first fight, then came back too soon, got KO’d in the second. Okay. Charles Oliveira is his best win, and that’s in 2022. That’s his best win.”
“Based off his resume, I don’t have him in the top 10. Not hating, it’s just strength of schedule is so weak. So weak.”
Schaub said the later direction of Makhachev’s opponents affects how he judges those wins:
“Let’s say JDM goes on a five-fight losing streak. You know, he got to be champ, but then it turns out he kind of fizzled out. Is that a quality win? No. Moicano, solid fighter. Love Moicano. Great fighter. Is he top three guys of all time, or even top three in his generation? No. Dustin Poirier, being older Dustin Poirier, cool. Volkanovski, you struggled with and then knocked out. He came back too soon. He’s not even a 55. Okay, congrats. Beat Charles. That’s a good one.”
“His resume [is] weak as f—. This problem with Khabib’s, too. Weak as f—.”
Schaub Separates Opponent Timing From Inactivity
“Fighting the prime guys isn’t his fault. So, I don’t knock him for that, ’cause it’s not his fault. The inactivity is his fault.”
When asked how many fights Makhachev might have left, Schaub answered:
“If I had to guess, two, max.”
He later returned to the all-time comparison:
“That’s what he needs to do. He needs to build that resume because it ain’t s— right now, especially at GOAT talk compared to Jon Jones. Even Mighty Mouse has a better resume.”
Schaub also rejected the idea that one additional win would settle the debate:
“No. No. No. If Islam beat Topuria at what, 70? Like, that’s not going to do it. Top has no business going up to 170. If anything, he has to go back to 45.”
Makhachev can extend his UFC winning streak against Garry in Philadelphia. Dustin Poirier recently made the opposite case about the quality of Makhachev’s streak, while Makhachev has said he wants to reach 20 consecutive UFC wins. A victory over Garry would add another title defense to the record Schaub says still needs more depth before an all-time ranking.
