@ARAourangazebAlif if Islam would do khabib still G&P instead hand fighting to go for submissions then he would be better. Khabib just beats the shit out of them faster by G&P. There for less minutes in the cage so less damage to him....IMO
I love Islam, but Khabib was a different animal. We never saw him bleed or bruised after any of his fights. Also, he fought more strikers. He had an invincible aura. I don't think we're going to see a fighter like him for a long time.
I personally would say Islam simply because of the MUCH tougher comp. Volk twice and Charles shits on a dustin, justin gaethje or conor win. And the difference in the striking is much larger than the slight edge in grappling I would give to Khabib
Islam Makhachev : -Better fighter overall (Beating his opponents at their own game): -Submitting the submission king Oliveira -Outstriking Volk who is one of the best strikers in the game -Outboxing Poirier who is one of the best boxers in the game Khabib: -The more dominant fighter -smothering all his opponents with his otherworldy grappling and make them completely helpless -Barely faced any adversity in his career
Islam faced better and more varied competition which is also why I think he’s better. There’s too many questions left about Khabib. Would he have beat Arman or Olivera or Volk? Most likely but that’s all hypothetical. Makhachev has actually done it
@@Figgy636islam fought better in todays fighters. When Khabib was fighting he fought RDA, Barbosa, MJ, Conor, Geathje, Poirier, all were the ones supposedly to beat Khabib but failed he barely broke a sweat.
@@Figgy636 You can say the same thing in reverse, would Islam have put away the guys khabib did? Most likely but khabib actually did it. There is absolutely no reason to believe khabib wouldn't beat the hell out of Arman, Olivera, and Volk. He did it to everyone who stepped in the cage, with EASE. Islam does not dominate in the cage the way khabib did. He loses rounds, gets beat and cut up, gets dropped, has been KO'd, can't say that about khabib.
@@snagginbirdies1006 Difference is the Islam wins I mentioned are guys who are worse stylistically match ups for Khabib and Islam. Islam never beating Gaethje or Mcgregor isn’t as important as the fact that he beat Olivera, Arman and Volk and Khabib did not. Because those guys are nightmare match ups
Years ago before the Khabib/Gaetjhe fight DC did an interview and was asked about how Khabib stacks in comparison to the "AKA OGs" in DC, Rockhold, Thompson etc. DC said that the goal is ALWAYS to have the next generation of fighters surpass what you've done, and said he thought Khabib's greatness was on par if not surpassed what AKA had done to that point. Ever since then I've thought about Islam through that lense, how happy Khabib is to see Islam win and surpass his own records etc. Then thinking about Umar and Usman coming up. I guarantee Islam will be there for Usman and Umar whenever he retires, and hopes that they surpass whatever he ends up doing. I think of Islam and Khabib as 1a and 1b. Pick your poison. Khabib is the better pressure fighter, relentless never backing up. Islam is the better striker, better overall grappler (Muay Thai plum, clinchwork). Khabib is the better pure Wrestler. Islam has Judo that Khabib did not etc The way that I see it, Khabib has done some things that Islam will never and could never do, such as retire undefeated. He was the FIRST Muslim fighter to win a title, has a lot of records you cannot take away. That being said Islam is tying and breaking Khabib's other records, and doing other things (such as trying to go for double champ) that Khabib never did. Khabib vs Islam will always be a pick your poison. They will always be 1a and 1b in my opinion
I agree I believe Islam. I think if khabib fought someone similar to Islam or someone who had good striking and AMAZING takedown defense then it would’ve been one and done. Islam has faced someone like that already in volk and even had early challenges in the grappling like Arman and Davi Ramos.
Chito Vera hasn’t been cut, hurt or dropped. Does that mean he’s great, no it means he’s durable. That isn’t a good argument for why someone is better.
@@jengofetlupa44 In a sport where your objective literally is to beat up and hurt the other dude? um yeah it does matter that nobody could do it, and they all got their face smashed for trying
@@snagginbirdies1006Being durable does not make you a better fighter, it’s a heady attribute to have but it doesn’t in any way make him better than Islam.
@@jengofetlupa44 Can you read or do you just not understand fighting? The ENTIRE POINT of fighting is to hurt your opponent. Islam has been KO’d. He’s been wobbly and beat up losing rounds. Khabib lost two rounds his entire career. Islam has lost two rounds in one fight multiple times. Explain how Islam is better? Please say he’s more well rounded or a better striker so I can respond with the exact same sentence, IT’S A FIGHT. We don’t give out ribbons for best dressed or style points. Khabib did it better. How about who would you rather fight? Guy who’s basically won every single round in his career with ease or guy who has lost by KO, been beat up, and lost a bunch of rounds. Your picking Islam every single time
@@snagginbirdies1006Islam is better because he’s fought better opposition and showcased a better range of mma skills than Khabib. It’s fighting so what if how got caught and ko’d once? When have you ever seen Islam rocked besides the ko and Volk 1 and which fights has he lost multiple rounds in besides volk 1? Apart from that he has been very dominant and Khabib should’ve lost to Thibau, everyone has bad performances. Islam is better because he outboxed Poirier, outkickboxed Volk and submitted Charles, out wrestled Arman. He literally beat elite opponents at their own game whilst khabib can only do one thing and only ever fought 5 good guys his whole career. The point of fighting is to see who is more skilled over the course of 3 or 5 rounds, not to hurt your opponent it’s a sport not a street fight. Being durable is a great attribute to have but doesn’t make you better than someone you donut. Islam has literally tied Khabib’s title defense record, his greatest achievement and is still going and unlike Khabib Islam beat the number 1 pfp to become true number 1pfp… Islam is also literally statistically one of the hardest guys to hit in the ufc right now, he just marks up really easily, khabib barely stood and traded and still ate some big shots. Having never been beaten but fighting absolute nobodies and dominating favourable stylistic matchups in one area doesn’t make him better than Islam. Tell me this if Islam can stuff Khabib’s takedowns or get up which he most likely can how would Khabib win then? Because islam can beat Khabib anywhere you take the fight besides wrestling, If plan A doesn’t work Khabib would be screwed.
Obvsly compared for their era: I think Islam is little more than slightly better, but Khabib seems (and is) better 'cause he can recover from the weight cut more. That's what separates the two. Without the cut, Islam would probably beat Khabib the most out of 100 times, and more and more as the serie goes on, if he doesn't feel intimidated by him
I think Islam's mentality will improve from Dustin fight because his toughness, grit, and chin like things got tested against an absolute dog like Dustin, and he was able to overcome adversity.
Javier just confirmed earlier today that Makhachev was on antibiotics 3 weeks out of the fight. Perhaps that's why he performed the why he did against Poirier.
I'm a big fan of both. Islam and Khabib fighting styles are different. Islam is more well rounded than Khabib by being good almost everywhere. He has better striking, kicks, and a better standup than Khabib in general. Khabib standup mainly focuses on a good jab to set up his takedowns, not to outbox or outstrike his opponents. However their approach to grappling is different. Once the fight goes to the ground Islam will look to sub his opponent and finish him. On the other hand Khabib is not in an urge for a finish. He'll prioritize position over submission and mauls his opponents via ground and pound until an opening presents itself. He also makes his opponents carry his weight and exert a lot of effort in trying to get up and escape Khabib's mauling. Grappling is the area where Khabib outshines Makhachev by being more effective in causing damage to his opponents. So in short I might say that Islam is the more well rounded fighter but Khabib's fighting style is more effective on the ground in addition to having a better chin, cardio, and fight IQ.
Khabib was tougher mentally and physically. The closest fight I saw him have was against Gleison Tibau and Khabib was relentless in his pressure and never got hurt, even though Tibau was MUCH bigger. Islam is very skilful and well rounded. He’s excellent everywhere in terms of skill and execution but he’s nowhere near as tough or dominant as Khabib. Khabib never got hurt, not even by Gaethje who was obviously landing some huge leg kicks and punches too. Khabib walked through it all and crushed him.
Khabib's style works for him which is what made him this UNBEATABLE force, on the other hand Islam is a more COMPLETE fighter he can deal with more fighting styles than Khabib.
Khabib is the more COMPLETE fighter. It's a fight, not figure skating, you don't get style points. There is one goal, beat the shit out of the other guy, that's it end of story. Islam does not do that better than Khabib. Who would you rather fight? The dude who has been KO'd, lost many rounds, been dropped multiple times and shown vulnerability. Or the guy who no one has had success against and is 100% going to drag you to the ground and hold you there while he smashes your face in. You are flat lying if you say you'd rather face Khabib.
@@snagginbirdies1006 I disagree because Islam's skillset is more DIVERSE and he has fought tougher stylistic matchups for him, I would've loved to see how Khabib would've fared against a FULL CAMP Volk, because an argument can be made that he LOST vs Tibau a guy who wouldn't be BULLIED by Khabib.
@@whartonarseino8849 His skillset is more diverse, correct. This makes him better, absolutely not. That’s like saying MJ wasn’t the greatest basketball player because he didn’t shoot 3’s or pass a lot. Is he going to kick your ass with dunks and midrange sniping? Well yeah. Then why shoot 3’s??? Khabib is the same thing. Why the hell would anyone advise him to practice more striking when he completely DOMINATES ground and pound? Again, fighting of not a game of style points or diversity of skills. It’s who can kick the shit out of the other guy. Khabib is WAY WAY better at that than Islam. Islam takes damage, loses rounds, gets dropped, has been KO’d. None of that you can say about Khabib. Which is more impressive by the way, EVERY fighter knew his game plan and no one came close to beating him…. And if the fact that a roided up prime age Tibau took one round from him tips the scale for you then I don’t know what to tell you
7:28 i get the comparison you were making with this example but the difference is even though Charles finished dustin quicker, khabib did it much more flawlessly its not just about who finished who quicker but the dominance leading up to the finish
That is true but my take wasn't supposed to be that Oliviera beat Dustin better than Khabib. It's just they had a very similar result due to similar gameplans/fighting style, where as Islam has a different style leading to a different result. I do agree that Khabib did defeat Dustin more dominantly than Charles though.
Then Justin knocked out Dustin without getting troubled in guillotines or anything. Fights are all about styles. Islam knocked out Tibau easily. If you want to say Tibau was past his prime when he fought Islam, this Dustin was better than the one who faced Khabib. This Dustin avoided the cage. He was trying to land upper cuts against Islam when he was near the cage because he knew Khabib shooted takedowns in those moments. Worked with Gamrot and improved his takedown and submission defense. He didn't jump guillotines against Islam and take himself down. These are all factors, and no one talks about them. Then, say Islam is worse.
@@FrankCastle-ul4gci don’t understand what you’re getting at with the justin example because he’s a striker not a grappler,& yes ofc dustins improved his wrestling defense since he fought khabib but my opinion is & always has been that khabib has better grappling than islam
Makachev without staph would've finished the kimura in round1. And that's the better version of Poirier. Makachev also knocked Tibau cold inside 1 minute. He can dictate which way the fight is going whether striking or ground game. He is far superior fighter that Khabib. The "never got cut" is such a shitty argument of course you dont get cut when your opponents are on the ground 4 minutes every round.
Khabib basically dominated everyone of his opponents, but he only beat 4 great fighters. Conor, Poirier, Gaethje and RDA. Everyone else was pretty mid. Islam has now defeated 3 great fighters (Volk twice). But he has not dominated as much. Imo he still needs a few more wins to be over Khabib. If Islams gets a win over Arman and one more, he has surpassed Khabib without a doubt. Khabib is like top 7 all time or something. He could be much much higher if he continued fighting. Skillwise islam is way better all around and obviously Khabib is the better grappler.
I guess the argument that Khabib was more dominant is quiet an interesting one, Khabib fought strikers who had never seen the crazy mountain style high pressure wrestling, so obv he came out to look more "dominant". Islam on the other side had to fight elite grapplers who'd prior knowledge of his background, DP had fought Khabib, he had the experience first hand and nothing can take that away from him, and he very well utilized it in his fight with Islam. Also the only 3 times Islam had "close fights", he'd health issues: Arman fight he had some abnormality in his heart (he'd to get a surgery done), Volk fight, he was lacking 12 hours of hydration and during the Dustin fight, he had staph. And I believe he best way to draw a contrast between Khabib and Islam is like: Khabib takes you to his world and beats the living f out of you while Islam dives into your world and still end up at the top. Both break their opponents, one uses pressure and demolition, the other uses patience, skill, and calmness.
That is a very good point, I agree that Khabib maybe looked more dominant because he faced strikers. The heart issue with Makhachev is from prior in his career. He fought Tsarukyan in 2019 but had his procedure in 2015. His fights vs Volk and Dustin he may have not been at his best for the reasons you gave. Especially the staph in the camp against Dustin. For the Volk one it is his choice to make the cut to 155 so I don't think that is a great excuse. I agree with those descriptions.
@@brycefromboston thanks for the correction regarding the heart condition, I guess I heard Jav say sum about Islam being like seriously ill during the Arman fight recently, maybe I mixed up the two things. Thanks mate
I think it's still TBD. If Islam somehow gets the 170lb belt and breaks khabibs record for title defenses at 155 I think we can say that Islam is better. I think Usman Nurmagomedov may surpass Islam though and you'll continue to see more improved Dagestanis with every generation that comes in.
Charles got floored by dustin and took damage, Khabib took zero damage could have defended against another person like tony on the same day, Islam tried entertaining the fans and proved to dustin he could put up a dog fight and be smart like a champion the same time being ahead mentally. Khabibs striking is awkward and wild also quick he flourishes in quick strikes and ground and pound relentless. Islam is more muay thai and boxing with sambo, for the casual Islam will look better and more entertaining but he is more prone to take damage as well as giving it. Khabib takes zero risks to get damaged let alone break a sweat. All in all Khabib was more relentless and pressure, Islam is more eye of the tiger. There you go. I like Islam better but tbh Khabib was not more beatable, he was quick at evading punches and then damaging opponents and will rinse out opponents energy then smothering them. Islam will rinse his gas tank with his opponents, he will try bang with them. Personally id say Khabib is Better and islam is more entertaining, i like Islam better though. Even coach javier mendez said the only one to take a round of Khabib was Islam. Islam beat Tibau via knock out 1st round, Khabib was having a harsh time. They are both different. Styles makes fights. Both Islam and Khabib will fair different with each opponent. Less risks Khabib’s style is better, for entertainment and skill holding all the gem stones would be Islams style.
Khabeeb was like prime Conor, everybody was scared of them, it's a psychological thing, at some point he would get caught and people would lose the respect/fear they had
Who is the better fighter between Khabib and Islam? If Khabib is better, Islam will be happy. If Islam is better, Khabib will be happy. Their brotherhood means more to them than records, titles, or public opinion.
The dude who never lost, only lost 2 rounds in his entire career, has the most 10-8 rounds in the ufc, never bled in the cage....That dude is more beatable?? Wtf? We have literally seen Islam lose, got KO'd, he has lost a bunch of rounds. He's lost the same number of rounds in a single fight as khabib his entire career, multiple times. You keep saying "well khabib COULD get KO'd" except he didn't, not only that he never even got dropped even once so...yep more beatable and easier to KO, that math works out.
Khabib had one style but it was so perfect nobody could do anything against it.
Khabib. His ground and pound was a total different level.
Islam is better everywhere else
@ARAourangazebAlif if Islam would do khabib still G&P instead hand fighting to go for submissions then he would be better. Khabib just beats the shit out of them faster by G&P. There for less minutes in the cage so less damage to him....IMO
I love Islam, but Khabib was a different animal. We never saw him bleed or bruised after any of his fights. Also, he fought more strikers. He had an invincible aura. I don't think we're going to see a fighter like him for a long time.
Islam said no one can beat Khabib, not even him. If Islam said it, I believe him.
Another difference between them is that you can feel that dominant presence when Khabib steps in that octagon.
Glaze
Islam def has aura as well but not as powerful as Khabibs since we havent seen him taking damage like Islam.
@@xeta180 ofc Islam has aura but not at hte level of Khabib
Simple
Islam is more rounded and diverse when he fights
Khabib is better and dominates
I personally would say Islam simply because of the MUCH tougher comp. Volk twice and Charles shits on a dustin, justin gaethje or conor win. And the difference in the striking is much larger than the slight edge in grappling I would give to Khabib
Islam is my brother in Islam but Khabib is a different breed 💪🏽
Boston cooking
Islam Makhachev :
-Better fighter overall
(Beating his opponents at their own game):
-Submitting the submission king Oliveira
-Outstriking Volk who is one of the best strikers in the game
-Outboxing Poirier who is one of the best boxers in the game
Khabib:
-The more dominant fighter
-smothering all his opponents with his otherworldy grappling and make them completely helpless
-Barely faced any adversity in his career
Islam faced better and more varied competition which is also why I think he’s better. There’s too many questions left about Khabib. Would he have beat Arman or Olivera or Volk? Most likely but that’s all hypothetical. Makhachev has actually done it
@@Figgy636 fair opinion
@@Figgy636islam fought better in todays fighters. When Khabib was fighting he fought RDA, Barbosa, MJ, Conor, Geathje, Poirier, all were the ones supposedly to beat Khabib but failed he barely broke a sweat.
@@Figgy636 You can say the same thing in reverse, would Islam have put away the guys khabib did? Most likely but khabib actually did it. There is absolutely no reason to believe khabib wouldn't beat the hell out of Arman, Olivera, and Volk. He did it to everyone who stepped in the cage, with EASE. Islam does not dominate in the cage the way khabib did. He loses rounds, gets beat and cut up, gets dropped, has been KO'd, can't say that about khabib.
@@snagginbirdies1006 Difference is the Islam wins I mentioned are guys who are worse stylistically match ups for Khabib and Islam. Islam never beating Gaethje or Mcgregor isn’t as important as the fact that he beat Olivera, Arman and Volk and Khabib did not. Because those guys are nightmare match ups
Years ago before the Khabib/Gaetjhe fight DC did an interview and was asked about how Khabib stacks in comparison to the "AKA OGs" in DC, Rockhold, Thompson etc.
DC said that the goal is ALWAYS to have the next generation of fighters surpass what you've done, and said he thought Khabib's greatness was on par if not surpassed what AKA had done to that point.
Ever since then I've thought about Islam through that lense, how happy Khabib is to see Islam win and surpass his own records etc. Then thinking about Umar and Usman coming up. I guarantee Islam will be there for Usman and Umar whenever he retires, and hopes that they surpass whatever he ends up doing.
I think of Islam and Khabib as 1a and 1b. Pick your poison. Khabib is the better pressure fighter, relentless never backing up. Islam is the better striker, better overall grappler (Muay Thai plum, clinchwork). Khabib is the better pure Wrestler. Islam has Judo that Khabib did not etc
The way that I see it, Khabib has done some things that Islam will never and could never do, such as retire undefeated. He was the FIRST Muslim fighter to win a title, has a lot of records you cannot take away.
That being said Islam is tying and breaking Khabib's other records, and doing other things (such as trying to go for double champ) that Khabib never did.
Khabib vs Islam will always be a pick your poison. They will always be 1a and 1b in my opinion
I agree I believe Islam. I think if khabib fought someone similar to Islam or someone who had good striking and AMAZING takedown defense then it would’ve been one and done. Islam has faced someone like that already in volk and even had early challenges in the grappling like Arman and Davi Ramos.
khabib was a cannonball, destroying whatever in front of him. islam is a smart heat guided missile, he picks where to obliterate
Khabib never got cut, dropped or hurt. Nobody ever reversed a position on Khabib… as much as I love Islam.. Khabib was a better fighter
Chito Vera hasn’t been cut, hurt or dropped. Does that mean he’s great, no it means he’s durable. That isn’t a good argument for why someone is better.
@@jengofetlupa44 In a sport where your objective literally is to beat up and hurt the other dude? um yeah it does matter that nobody could do it, and they all got their face smashed for trying
@@snagginbirdies1006Being durable does not make you a better fighter, it’s a heady attribute to have but it doesn’t in any way make him better than Islam.
@@jengofetlupa44 Can you read or do you just not understand fighting? The ENTIRE POINT of fighting is to hurt your opponent. Islam has been KO’d. He’s been wobbly and beat up losing rounds. Khabib lost two rounds his entire career. Islam has lost two rounds in one fight multiple times. Explain how Islam is better? Please say he’s more well rounded or a better striker so I can respond with the exact same sentence, IT’S A FIGHT. We don’t give out ribbons for best dressed or style points. Khabib did it better. How about who would you rather fight? Guy who’s basically won every single round in his career with ease or guy who has lost by KO, been beat up, and lost a bunch of rounds. Your picking Islam every single time
@@snagginbirdies1006Islam is better because he’s fought better opposition and showcased a better range of mma skills than Khabib. It’s fighting so what if how got caught and ko’d once? When have you ever seen Islam rocked besides the ko and Volk 1 and which fights has he lost multiple rounds in besides volk 1? Apart from that he has been very dominant and Khabib should’ve lost to Thibau, everyone has bad performances. Islam is better because he outboxed Poirier, outkickboxed Volk and submitted Charles, out wrestled Arman. He literally beat elite opponents at their own game whilst khabib can only do one thing and only ever fought 5 good guys his whole career. The point of fighting is to see who is more skilled over the course of 3 or 5 rounds, not to hurt your opponent it’s a sport not a street fight. Being durable is a great attribute to have but doesn’t make you better than someone you donut. Islam has literally tied Khabib’s title defense record, his greatest achievement and is still going and unlike Khabib Islam beat the number 1 pfp to become true number 1pfp… Islam is also literally statistically one of the hardest guys to hit in the ufc right now, he just marks up really easily, khabib barely stood and traded and still ate some big shots. Having never been beaten but fighting absolute nobodies and dominating favourable stylistic matchups in one area doesn’t make him better than Islam. Tell me this if Islam can stuff Khabib’s takedowns or get up which he most likely can how would Khabib win then? Because islam can beat Khabib anywhere you take the fight besides wrestling, If plan A doesn’t work Khabib would be screwed.
Obvsly compared for their era: I think Islam is little more than slightly better, but Khabib seems (and is) better 'cause he can recover from the weight cut more. That's what separates the two. Without the cut, Islam would probably beat Khabib the most out of 100 times, and more and more as the serie goes on, if he doesn't feel intimidated by him
I think Islam's mentality will improve from Dustin fight because his toughness, grit, and chin like things got tested against an absolute dog like Dustin, and he was able to overcome adversity.
Interesting comparison! Keep it up ✊
Javier just confirmed earlier today that Makhachev was on antibiotics 3 weeks out of the fight. Perhaps that's why he performed the why he did against Poirier.
I'm a big fan of both. Islam and Khabib fighting styles are different. Islam is more well rounded than Khabib by being good almost everywhere. He has better striking, kicks, and a better standup than Khabib in general. Khabib standup mainly focuses on a good jab to set up his takedowns, not to outbox or outstrike his opponents. However their approach to grappling is different. Once the fight goes to the ground Islam will look to sub his opponent and finish him. On the other hand Khabib is not in an urge for a finish. He'll prioritize position over submission and mauls his opponents via ground and pound until an opening presents itself. He also makes his opponents carry his weight and exert a lot of effort in trying to get up and escape Khabib's mauling. Grappling is the area where Khabib outshines Makhachev by being more effective in causing damage to his opponents. So in short I might say that Islam is the more well rounded fighter but Khabib's fighting style is more effective on the ground in addition to having a better chin, cardio, and fight IQ.
Khabib was tougher mentally and physically. The closest fight I saw him have was against Gleison Tibau and Khabib was relentless in his pressure and never got hurt, even though Tibau was MUCH bigger. Islam is very skilful and well rounded. He’s excellent everywhere in terms of skill and execution but he’s nowhere near as tough or dominant as Khabib. Khabib never got hurt, not even by Gaethje who was obviously landing some huge leg kicks and punches too. Khabib walked through it all and crushed him.
khabib was special no is like khabib
Khabib's style works for him which is what made him this UNBEATABLE force, on the other hand Islam is a more COMPLETE fighter he can deal with more fighting styles than Khabib.
Khabib is the more COMPLETE fighter. It's a fight, not figure skating, you don't get style points. There is one goal, beat the shit out of the other guy, that's it end of story. Islam does not do that better than Khabib. Who would you rather fight? The dude who has been KO'd, lost many rounds, been dropped multiple times and shown vulnerability. Or the guy who no one has had success against and is 100% going to drag you to the ground and hold you there while he smashes your face in. You are flat lying if you say you'd rather face Khabib.
@@snagginbirdies1006 I disagree because Islam's skillset is more DIVERSE and he has fought tougher stylistic matchups for him, I would've loved to see how Khabib would've fared against a FULL CAMP Volk, because an argument can be made that he LOST vs Tibau a guy who wouldn't be BULLIED by Khabib.
@@whartonarseino8849 His skillset is more diverse, correct. This makes him better, absolutely not. That’s like saying MJ wasn’t the greatest basketball player because he didn’t shoot 3’s or pass a lot. Is he going to kick your ass with dunks and midrange sniping? Well yeah. Then why shoot 3’s??? Khabib is the same thing. Why the hell would anyone advise him to practice more striking when he completely DOMINATES ground and pound? Again, fighting of not a game of style points or diversity of skills. It’s who can kick the shit out of the other guy. Khabib is WAY WAY better at that than Islam. Islam takes damage, loses rounds, gets dropped, has been KO’d. None of that you can say about Khabib. Which is more impressive by the way, EVERY fighter knew his game plan and no one came close to beating him…. And if the fact that a roided up prime age Tibau took one round from him tips the scale for you then I don’t know what to tell you
7:28 i get the comparison you were making with this example but the difference is even though Charles finished dustin quicker, khabib did it much more flawlessly its not just about who finished who quicker but the dominance leading up to the finish
That is true but my take wasn't supposed to be that Oliviera beat Dustin better than Khabib. It's just they had a very similar result due to similar gameplans/fighting style, where as Islam has a different style leading to a different result. I do agree that Khabib did defeat Dustin more dominantly than Charles though.
Then Justin knocked out Dustin without getting troubled in guillotines or anything. Fights are all about styles. Islam knocked out Tibau easily. If you want to say Tibau was past his prime when he fought Islam, this Dustin was better than the one who faced Khabib. This Dustin avoided the cage. He was trying to land upper cuts against Islam when he was near the cage because he knew Khabib shooted takedowns in those moments. Worked with Gamrot and improved his takedown and submission defense. He didn't jump guillotines against Islam and take himself down. These are all factors, and no one talks about them. Then, say Islam is worse.
@@brycefromboston yea it was just a minor nitpick in the example you gave but overall i still agree with your main point about the styles
@@FrankCastle-ul4gci don’t understand what you’re getting at with the justin example because he’s a striker not a grappler,& yes ofc dustins improved his wrestling defense since he fought khabib but my opinion is & always has been that khabib has better grappling than islam
Makachev without staph would've finished the kimura in round1. And that's the better version of Poirier. Makachev also knocked Tibau cold inside 1 minute. He can dictate which way the fight is going whether striking or ground game. He is far superior fighter that Khabib.
The "never got cut" is such a shitty argument of course you dont get cut when your opponents are on the ground 4 minutes every round.
Khabib never got cut in 29 fights
doesnt mean much, I still think Khabib is the LW goat rn but hes just a hair above Islam.
Khabib basically dominated everyone of his opponents, but he only beat 4 great fighters. Conor, Poirier, Gaethje and RDA. Everyone else was pretty mid.
Islam has now defeated 3 great fighters (Volk twice). But he has not dominated as much. Imo he still needs a few more wins to be over Khabib.
If Islams gets a win over Arman and one more, he has surpassed Khabib without a doubt.
Khabib is like top 7 all time or something. He could be much much higher if he continued fighting.
Skillwise islam is way better all around and obviously Khabib is the better grappler.
I guess the argument that Khabib was more dominant is quiet an interesting one, Khabib fought strikers who had never seen the crazy mountain style high pressure wrestling, so obv he came out to look more "dominant". Islam on the other side had to fight elite grapplers who'd prior knowledge of his background, DP had fought Khabib, he had the experience first hand and nothing can take that away from him, and he very well utilized it in his fight with Islam. Also the only 3 times Islam had "close fights", he'd health issues:
Arman fight he had some abnormality in his heart (he'd to get a surgery done), Volk fight, he was lacking 12 hours of hydration and during the Dustin fight, he had staph.
And I believe he best way to draw a contrast between Khabib and Islam is like:
Khabib takes you to his world and beats the living f out of you while Islam dives into your world and still end up at the top. Both break their opponents, one uses pressure and demolition, the other uses patience, skill, and calmness.
That is a very good point, I agree that Khabib maybe looked more dominant because he faced strikers.
The heart issue with Makhachev is from prior in his career. He fought Tsarukyan in 2019 but had his procedure in 2015. His fights vs Volk and Dustin he may have not been at his best for the reasons you gave. Especially the staph in the camp against Dustin. For the Volk one it is his choice to make the cut to 155 so I don't think that is a great excuse. I agree with those descriptions.
@@brycefromboston thanks for the correction regarding the heart condition, I guess I heard Jav say sum about Islam being like seriously ill during the Arman fight recently, maybe I mixed up the two things. Thanks mate
I think it's still TBD. If Islam somehow gets the 170lb belt and breaks khabibs record for title defenses at 155 I think we can say that Islam is better. I think Usman Nurmagomedov may surpass Islam though and you'll continue to see more improved Dagestanis with every generation that comes in.
Islam goes to your world and beat you at your own game while Khabib kidnapped you and bring you into the deep sea and you lose hope.
Charles got floored by dustin and took damage, Khabib took zero damage could have defended against another person like tony on the same day, Islam tried entertaining the fans and proved to dustin he could put up a dog fight and be smart like a champion the same time being ahead mentally. Khabibs striking is awkward and wild also quick he flourishes in quick strikes and ground and pound relentless. Islam is more muay thai and boxing with sambo, for the casual Islam will look better and more entertaining but he is more prone to take damage as well as giving it. Khabib takes zero risks to get damaged let alone break a sweat. All in all Khabib was more relentless and pressure, Islam is more eye of the tiger. There you go. I like Islam better but tbh Khabib was not more beatable, he was quick at evading punches and then damaging opponents and will rinse out opponents energy then smothering them. Islam will rinse his gas tank with his opponents, he will try bang with them. Personally id say Khabib is Better and islam is more entertaining, i like Islam better though. Even coach javier mendez said the only one to take a round of Khabib was Islam. Islam beat Tibau via knock out 1st round, Khabib was having a harsh time. They are both different. Styles makes fights. Both Islam and Khabib will fair different with each opponent. Less risks Khabib’s style is better, for entertainment and skill holding all the gem stones would be Islams style.
Islam better overall skills, Khabib better and smarter fighter
Khabeeb was like prime Conor, everybody was scared of them, it's a psychological thing, at some point he would get caught and people would lose the respect/fear they had
Who is the better fighter between Khabib and Islam? If Khabib is better, Islam will be happy. If Islam is better, Khabib will be happy. Their brotherhood means more to them than records, titles, or public opinion.
How many times is this dude gonna say “Khabibs mentality “😂😂
The dude who never lost, only lost 2 rounds in his entire career, has the most 10-8 rounds in the ufc, never bled in the cage....That dude is more beatable?? Wtf? We have literally seen Islam lose, got KO'd, he has lost a bunch of rounds. He's lost the same number of rounds in a single fight as khabib his entire career, multiple times. You keep saying "well khabib COULD get KO'd" except he didn't, not only that he never even got dropped even once so...yep more beatable and easier to KO, that math works out.
Khabib never got a cut. Her can't box? WTF
Khabib is better and would win 10 out of 10 fights against islam. but islam is more well rounded
Khabib would not win 10/10 fights vs Islam, if they fought Islam would win like 6 times out of 10. He has wayy more paths to victory, think about it.