Khabib Nurmagomedov wants Islam Makhachev to move past Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre and Demetrious Johnson in MMA’s all-time debate.
The undefeated former UFC lightweight champion said he never chased the GOAT label for himself. His new goal is to see someone from his own team reach that level and break the records held by the sport’s most decorated champions. h/t Red Corner MMA.
Khabib Wants Islam To Break The Biggest Records
Lex Fridman asked whether Makhachev can become the greatest MMA fighter ever. In the official English dub, Khabib answered by naming the champions he considers permanent parts of that discussion before explaining why Islam’s remaining time concerns him:
“Well, I’ve never said that, and I never set out to become number one or to become the greatest athlete and so on. I never had that. My goal was always to become the best in my sport, to become a world champion, to prove to myself that I could do it. But it’s hard to choose just one person. Even now, look, there’s always going to be St-Pierre, there’s always going to be Demetrious Johnson, there’s always going to be Jon Jones, there’s always going to be Fedor. If people want to include me in that conversation, if Islam gets into that conversation, if there’s Cain Velasquez, Cormier, and so on, I’d be happy about that. And that’s my goal, that someone from our team, from the people closest to me, gets there too. If Jon Jones is there, why can’t Islam be there? If Demetrious Johnson is there with 11 title defenses, why can’t Islam be there? It’s a good question. Why not? I’d like him to break all those records, to overtake Jon Jones, Demetrious Johnson, and St-Pierre, no matter how much respect I have for them. Islam has a chance, but time is starting to run out a little. This worries me because, for example, Jones fought at light heavyweight and now at heavyweight. Time is a little kinder to those divisions. Even at 38, you can still compete at the heavier weights. You don’t need the same reaction speed and all that. But when you compete in lighter weight classes, 155, 170, age really catches up. I think active fighters, retired fighters, wrestlers, athletes, especially those who competed in these weight classes, will understand what I’m talking about. When you’re 35 and when you’re 32 and when you’re 38, you’re a totally different athlete.”
The full interview is available below, beginning with the GOAT question:
Khabib’s point was not that one result would settle the debate. He wants Makhachev to build a record that can stand beside Johnson’s 11 consecutive title defenses and the title-fight resumes of Jones and St-Pierre.
Makhachev Is One Win From A UFC Streak Record
Makhachev enters UFC 330 at 28-1 with 16 consecutive UFC victories, tied with Anderson Silva for the longest winning streak in company history. A victory over Ian Machado Garry would give him the record outright at 17.
He won the lightweight championship in 2022 and made four successful defenses, passing Khabib, BJ Penn and Benson Henderson for the division record. Makhachev then moved to welterweight and defeated Jack Della Maddalena to become a two-division UFC champion.
The GOAT discussion has followed him through UFC 330 fight week. Dana White said Makhachev is on the right path but wants to judge his complete career later. Coach Javier Mendez argued that another title defense strengthens Islam’s case, while Jones has already placed Makhachev beside himself in the modern debate.
Khabib Says Islam’s Window Is Narrower
Khabib retired at 29-0 after three lightweight title defenses. He included himself among the names people can choose, but resisted naming a single greatest fighter because different champions built different kinds of records.
His concern is age. Makhachev is 34 and competes at 170 pounds, where Khabib believes reaction speed and athletic decline become more significant than they are at light heavyweight or heavyweight. UFC 330 takes place Saturday, August 15, 2026, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. Garry enters the welterweight title fight at 17-1.
