Israel Adesanya changed his tone on Islam Makhachev after watching him beat Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330. Speaking with Demetrious Johnson on Precision with Mighty and Izzy, Johnson first put Makhachev’s 17-fight UFC winning streak in the context of the opponents he has beaten.
He did it at lightweight against Alexander Volkanovski, Charles Oliveira, and then he goes up to welterweight and beats JDM and now Ian Garry.
When it comes to him out of that camp—Khabib, Usman, Umar—I think he’s probably the most well-rounded and the most technical out of all of them. Khabib is amazing, but he never went up to 170 and beat world-champion-caliber guys, legit guys as well.
Adesanya agreed, pointing to Makhachev’s ability to solve Garry’s reach and blend every part of MMA.
I thought the length would be a problem as well, and it was at certain parts of the fight, but Islam just proved that he’s the best out of the bunch. I like Usman as well because I like the way he kicks; he’s got that taekwondo flow. But when you put it all together, when it comes to mixed martial arts, yeah, Islam’s the one. He’s the best fighter in the world right now.
The comments landed four days after Adesanya picked Garry to upset Makhachev at UFC 330. Garry went the distance, but Makhachev’s control and record-setting run left Adesanya laughing about his own prediction record.
Adesanya Explains Why He Keeps Picking Against Makhachev
Again, he keeps fighting guys I like, so I keep picking against him. I’m like, man, he can’t keep getting away with this. My parlays.
You have to give it up because, like you said, in this era—to do that in this era is insane, and he got it done.
Adesanya Says Middleweight Size Still Matters
Johnson briefly floated an even bigger jump after Makhachev finishes his current run.
I think after he beats these guys, maybe he goes fight Sean Strickland. I don’t know.
Adesanya said he had considered the same idea before deciding the size difference at middleweight would matter.
I was going to say it before. I was like, maybe he should go up, but I’m like, nah, there’s levels. Size does play a factor at a certain point. I think his grappling will hang with some of the best up there, but nah, it doesn’t make sense. I think after these two, that’s it. Just be the GOAT.
Makhachev’s latest win also fed into Daniel Cormier’s post-UFC 330 praise for Makhachev and Max Holloway’s reaction to Makhachev’s two-belt celebration. Adesanya’s comments add another major-fighter endorsement as Makhachev remains at the center of the pound-for-pound debate.
