Reigning champion Islam Makhachev can be a surefire divisional G.O.A.T if and when he conquers the dangerous Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. Islam Makhachev already edges very near to the G.O.A.T conversation. Besides legendary mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, his running streak is something to be in awe of. Dual-division glory at welterweight will hoist him to greater heights.
He meets Dustin Poirier soon in the main event of UFC 302. After UFC 302’s Media Day, he sat with esteemed MMA Journo/columnist Kevin Iole (@KevinI) for a live chat. Iole kickstarted a G.O.A.T. conversation with the lightweight champion. He asked if Makhachev could chase legacies like Numagomedov, Jon Jones, and Georges St-Pierre. Makhachev says why not.
I can be, I know…[greatest fighter active]…We talk about this after, when I take second belt…Because…To be the best fighter of all time, you have to do more, you know. I feel I can…
Islam Makhachev to Kevin Iole (@KevinI) for Official Fight Week check-ins
Much like him, ‘Bones’ has unattainable stats; he recently supplanted him in pound-for-pound rankings. Khabib has a stellar 29-0 record. Meanwhile, St-Pierre is a welterweight G.O.A.T candidate who also won the middleweight strap. The 32-year-old wrestler already had two spectacular defenses at lightweight last year. Yet another successful defense of the undisputed gold ties him with ‘The Eagle’ and a few others for a stout record.
Islam Makhachev suggests that a discussion about him being the greatest fighter of all time could be had AFTER he secures a second belt. 👀
“To be the best fighter of all time, you have to do more, you know. I feel I can.”
🔹 @KevinI #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/jU8iG81hFX
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 31, 2024
The only baggage he has faced is blame for nitpicking the opponent and avoiding ranked lightweights on a slow rebound. A win over Poirier and two-division glory changes all that. Conversely, Dustin Poirier makes a case for himself as a lightweight GOAT if he defeats Makhachev. He said as much to ESPN First Take’s (@espn) Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim. It’s only one way ahead for both.
Islam Makhachev wants a ‘Diamond,’ not a ruby, in his legacy strap
The UFC is back on the East Coast with yet another pay-per-view spectacle; UFC 302 sees the lightweight undisputed gold up for stake. Islam Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) puts his title on the line against a former interim champ of equally great mettle. He meets thirty-fight UFC veteran Dustin Poirier in the headliner.
Islam Makhachev’s legacy belt demands Dustin ‘DIAMOND’ Poirier as UFC 302’s add-on (Source: ringtv.com/IMAGO)Ahead of this, though, the whole fight week saw various videos about the build-up to the fight. As usual, the promotion returned with its ceremonial “Embedded” fight week video series. UFC 302 “Embedded,” Vlog Series, Episode No. 4, sees the 32-year Eagles MMA fighter take a debrief on the new ruby system that gets added for each successful defense of the title.
It’s also during this video that Nurmagomedov asks to be put in his corner. Makhachev later gets presented with his UFC 294 hardware with an additional ruby (ranging back from UFC 284). Here’s what he had in mind for the next successful defense:
Next one, we don’t want ruby…we want ‘Diamond’…[laughs]
Islam Makhachev during UFC 302 “Embedded,” Vlog Series, Episode No. 4
Consequently, it is not the first time he has dashingly quipped about it. For a fighter from Dagestan with a language barrier, Makhachev remains stylistically strong in his resolve. Even during the Pound 4 Pound Podcast appearance with Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman, the lightweight champion said the same. This Saturday, the MMA world will discover if he can add to his quarry with his scorching intentions.
