Fight Club

[Wizzy]

i don't think he's the GOAT but I do think he's the best wrestler in his weight class.


like, for example.. there is just no way he would be able to outwrestle Brock Lesnar in his prime. i agree with butch he's not the GOAT, but he's pretty damn good.

[The Butcher]

his wrestling, grappling and conditioning are top tier, and his drive and heart. But when someone says "GOAT", i think a lot of things have to be considered and one of the most crucial things is title defenses. I mean, Matt Sera was a champion... Bisping was a champion.. you wouldn't even consider them when talking about being the greatest of all time.

I'd have to really think if I could even call him the greatest lightweight of all time.. he may have the best record but I'd have to do some research.

Right now I have Jon Jones, Anderson Silva and Royce Gracie well above Khabib for the "GOAT" title. A case for GSP could easily be made also, but I'm not a huge fan of his.

[The Butcher]

talking with a co worker about this exact thing just a few minutes ago - he made a good point i felt i should share

despite Khabib's opponents in his first 20 or so fights being pretty much no-names, he has never even been CLOSE to losing a fight. he may have lost 2 rounds in his career - 1 of them being round 1 vs McGregor. i remember seeing that round and thinking there was no way mcgregor was going to lose that fight, his takendown defense was incredible.

so - that is a great point to make in Khabib's favor.. but we both agreed he's no GOAT

[The Butcher]

so i see UFC officially moved Khabib into the #1 PfP spot

Looking at the lineup, i do agree it's fair right now. Jones hasn't fought and in my opinion he needs to earn that title back. Khabib earned it.

[Hugh]

I think there’s a good argument to be made for Jones or GSP for GOAT. GSP cleaned out the toughest division in MMA during his reign, old guard and up and comers. However, Johnny Hendricks kicked the shit out of him for 5 rounds, in my opinion, even though GSP got the win. Worst decision I’ve seen in the UFC, and it makes me wonder how GSP would do against a lot of fighters from this era he never faced. Keep in mind, GSP isn’t even 40 yet.
Anderson Silva dominated a lot of potatoes for a long time. Yeah he was the man, but guys like Forrest Griffin, Stephan Bonnar, Chris Leben, Rich Franklin and James Irvin would try to kickbox him and it was just stupid. They had nowhere near his skill or experience. Then Anderson hung around too long and started getting his ass kicked by everyone. He’s still doing that.
Bones has never actually been beaten since he got to the UFC ( minus the 1 DQ ). As far as GOAT, he might be, but he’s been in a lot of wars lately.
Some people say Khabib has never even lost a round. I’ve never seen him in actual trouble. I know he beats the shit out of everyone the exact same way, but he still beats the shit out of everyone. Tony Ferguson is talking shit about Khabib “running away”. After what Khabib just did to Gaethje, and seeing how he handled Conor and Dustin, pretty easy to say he’d do the exact same to Tony.
Khabib is 32. Maybe he takes some time off and comes back and cleans out everyone else. Then his GOAT status will be cemented. But I agree he probably needs to do more.

[The Butcher]

great points Hugh

[Hugh]

Well you got me thinking and you’re right. He isn’t the GOAT. As dominant as he was, he didn’t do enough.
If there’s a chapter 2 to his career I think he will be.

[Wizzy]

apparently no one knew Khabib was gonna retire that night and I guess his coaches/Dana have been talking to him and it sounds like they're gonna try to talk him into having another fight to attempt retiring at 30-0


https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/10/...ht-go-for-30-0

[Hugh]

Khabib should come back and go for the welterweight belt.
Khabib is a big lightweight. He might have not even legitimately made weight in his last fight. Conor occasionally goes up to fight welterweight and Khabib is a bigger guy than Conor.
He should come back and go for the welterweight belt. They would probably put him right into a title match against Usman, or a warm up fight with Covington or Masvidal first. Either way it would be epic.
If he wants to be the undisputed GOAT, that’s the way to do it.

[The Butcher]

Personally i really like the lightweight division without him in it, so I'd be down for that.

Speaking of GOATs, thoughts on Silvas last fight coming up?