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Islam Makhachev has continued to prove the doubters wrong, winning emphatically for the majority of his run to become a two-division world champion. Many consider him the best fighter in the world, but Makhachev’s displays have left Nate Diaz unimpressed.
Diaz often has controversial opinions about his fellow MMA stars. The fan-favorite has long been feuding with several notable athletes, even transcending his own sport; however, his latest target is the Dagestani welterweight champion.
At UFC 322, Islam Makhachev delivered a statement as he dominated Jack Della Maddalena to capture the 170 lbs title. The unanimous decision victory left a sour taste in Nate Diaz’s mouth, who was outspoken in his disdain toward Makhachev.
Amid Makhachev’s pound-for-pound king claims, Diaz had a lot to say regarding his Russian counterpart.
“They just throw sh*t out like that,” Diaz said regarding Makhachev’s No. 1 pound-for-pound claims during an appearance on N3on’s Twitch stream. “Like, he’s been here for, like, two minutes and he ain’t beaten nobody that’s great.”
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Nate Diaz believes the strength of opponents should be a key factor in deciding who to name the greatest of all time, an area he considers Makhachev lacking.
Despite the Sambo ace beating both current and former champions in Alexander Volkanovski, Charles Oliveria, and the aforementioned Jack Della Maddalena, Diaz pointed toward a different name for GOAT status.
“The best lightweight ever was B.J. Penn. B.J. Penn was beating up Matt Hughes and [Georges St-Pierre] — did he beat GSP? No, he beat his ass, but lost.”
“So when you get sh*t like that, and you’ve got whatever Islam did, it’s like, that doesn’t even match. Not that he can’t be and won’t be, though.”
“But you’re just going to throw GOAT at a motherf***er when he just showed up on the scene.”
Diaz then explained why he believes Islam Makhachev shouldn’t be considered the greatest.Â
While Makhachev’s ability inside the octagon has never been in question, it’s the wow factor that he brings that has Diaz and other fans less than impressed.
“They think I’m f***ing just hating because we’ve got our differences, but there’s sh*t that I’ve seen that I just remember forever and that’s GOAT sh*t,” Diaz continued.
“I ain’t seen nothing from them motherf***ers. I can’t even remember anything but getting bored in all them fools’ last fights, so that name shouldn’t even be thrown at those guys.”
The greatest of all time conversations have been prevalent in combat sports since the very beginning.
The UFC has its fair share of names that are considered contenders for each weight class’s king. Lightweight has had many over the years, with Islam Makhachev’s predecessor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, likely at the top of most people’s rankings.
Despite beginning a terrifying reign since forcing their way into the UFC, the Dagestani style of dominant grappling and exhausting pressure isn’t for everybody.
Related: Ilia Topuria reacts to ‘most boring’ Islam Makhachev winning UFC welterweight title
Nate Diaz values entertainment, deciding to side with Ilia Topuria ahead of Islam Makhachev and co.
“I think [Topuria’s] a more complete fighter, good fighter, though,” Diaz said. “You’ve got to just think of sh*t that you have to tune in for.”
“Remember B.J. Penn vs. Takanori Gomi? I couldn’t wait for that fight to happen.”
Ilia Topuria has quickly established himself in the current pound-for-pound No. 1 debates with his elite boxing and shattering knockout power.
The Spaniard has punched his way to the top of two UFC divisions and has a strong case for being the best fighter in the world.
While both Topuria and Makhachev are among those competing for the pound-for-pound throne, Nate Diaz has a different name in mind.
“Jon Jones, for sure.”
