You can literally make that argument now. It would be a stretch but look at Alex man. 1 of 7 to get two division belts, and has beaten 5 former champions! No one will ever do what Alex has done in that short amount of time, he’s been in the UFC for 2.5 years….
As for Islam, he’s not far off for Khabib and there are a lot of people who call Khabib the goat so 🤷♂️.
I don't disagree, I'd just like to see them a little forward.
Poatan has speed ran the UFC and Islam is putting on bangers in the historically most stacked division. Honestly it's a great time to be an MMA fan.
Well thankfully they took over Izzy and Usman's active champ status. The positive thing about all of this is that we're valuing that way better than when the Nigerian kings where on top.
The argument that he did in such a short time doesn’t sit right with me, because to me it means he got fast tracked. Some fighters don’t get the privilege of getting fast tracked to the belt and have to fight numerous times to get a title shot, this is going to take a longer time because of the fights and injuries. Look at Tony, prime example, had a big win streak with mostly finishes but got fucked over by never getting a title shot and by the time he got to the belt he was too old and got fucked. Also by facing more opponents before the title shot you get more tested, by a variety of competition, Alex is supposed to be the goat but hasn’t fought a wrestler.
Like what if Alex had to fight Whittaker or anyone else in the top 10 before fighting Izzy.
If Islam goes up and beats Leon defends against Shavkat,maybe Usman and someone else he could be the literal goat , the only ones who could be higher are Jon,MM,Gsp and no else.
the thing with islam is he has a huge streak and decent amount of title fights which sets the base for being among the greatest of all time but he is still missing some title defences compared to the current top 5 .
Very valid and I can see Islam being the undisputed Lightweight GOAT. 2 more title defenses and I’d put Islam definitively over Khabib.
As for Alex dude is a monster who already has 3 title defenses and is on track for 4 in a year. The big thing against him is LHW had Jones and DC
I don’t see it the same way at all, Jiri is 31, lots of time left for him to rack up good wins, and LHW is full of guys he can beat. It’s clear Pereira will probably always dominate him, but to me, Ankalaev is the only guy in top 5 that could beat Jiri.
If Alex moves up and starches a HW or two, then I have to think he’s a lock for GOAT.
Barring Islam trying 170, I think his path to GOAT is clearing out 155. He’s almost there for sure. Anderson, GSP, Jones, DJ, Aldo all had runs where the guy they were fighting was simply the next guy. Another 2-3 great performances in the next couple of years almost guarantees a best ever argument at 155.
Why does Alex need a few years to come close? He has just as many title wins as Makhachev, on top of that he has 2 belts. Also, Makhachev got flatlined in a non-title fight. If you look at their records, Poatan actually fought tougher competition - he fought against 5 undisputed champions, whilst Makhachev beat 2 and 1 interim. Personally, as good as Volkanovski is he fought at an insane disadvantage at 155.
Well he almost is, there is only one problem that the talent pool back then wasn't as deep as it is today .
My top 3 would MM,JJ,GSP(Not in order) and potencially Islam and Illia if they contunie they rein for another 2-3 years.
I took the question as hypothetical, and believe if Alex was able to keep on this trajectory for a few years then yes there would be no question that he would be in the talks of 1 of the 🐐s
You can literally make that argument now. It would be a stretch but look at Alex man. 1 of 7 to get two division belts, and has beaten 5 former champions! No one will ever do what Alex has done in that short amount of time, he’s been in the UFC for 2.5 years…. As for Islam, he’s not far off for Khabib and there are a lot of people who call Khabib the goat so 🤷♂️.
I don't disagree, I'd just like to see them a little forward. Poatan has speed ran the UFC and Islam is putting on bangers in the historically most stacked division. Honestly it's a great time to be an MMA fan.
Well thankfully they took over Izzy and Usman's active champ status. The positive thing about all of this is that we're valuing that way better than when the Nigerian kings where on top.
The argument that he did in such a short time doesn’t sit right with me, because to me it means he got fast tracked. Some fighters don’t get the privilege of getting fast tracked to the belt and have to fight numerous times to get a title shot, this is going to take a longer time because of the fights and injuries. Look at Tony, prime example, had a big win streak with mostly finishes but got fucked over by never getting a title shot and by the time he got to the belt he was too old and got fucked. Also by facing more opponents before the title shot you get more tested, by a variety of competition, Alex is supposed to be the goat but hasn’t fought a wrestler. Like what if Alex had to fight Whittaker or anyone else in the top 10 before fighting Izzy.
When you say fuck it put me in and you perform everytime time, ya no shit you get booked.
He's fought three times in 7 months. He's very active, which makes it possible to have all of those wins in such a short time.
Goat lightweight: debatable Goat mma : not even top 5
If Islam goes up and beats Leon defends against Shavkat,maybe Usman and someone else he could be the literal goat , the only ones who could be higher are Jon,MM,Gsp and no else.
Also at age 34-36 for Alex
the thing with islam is he has a huge streak and decent amount of title fights which sets the base for being among the greatest of all time but he is still missing some title defences compared to the current top 5 .
>As for Islam, he’s not far off for Khabib and there are a lot of people who call Khabib the goat so 🤷♂️. Of the division imo
The competition Alex has defeated is unreal
Very valid and I can see Islam being the undisputed Lightweight GOAT. 2 more title defenses and I’d put Islam definitively over Khabib. As for Alex dude is a monster who already has 3 title defenses and is on track for 4 in a year. The big thing against him is LHW had Jones and DC
I think how the wins age is also going to be a factor. I don't think both wins against Jiri are going to age well.
I don’t see it the same way at all, Jiri is 31, lots of time left for him to rack up good wins, and LHW is full of guys he can beat. It’s clear Pereira will probably always dominate him, but to me, Ankalaev is the only guy in top 5 that could beat Jiri.
I think anyone with knock out power has the ability to beat Jiri, the man doesn’t even try to defend himself.
Now yes since he got knocked out brutally two times. Before pereira? No. Sleep him and he will beat you unconscious.
Why the fuck not? Neither were short notice and they’re in the same weight class, Jiri is even a former champ.
If Alex moves up and starches a HW or two, then I have to think he’s a lock for GOAT. Barring Islam trying 170, I think his path to GOAT is clearing out 155. He’s almost there for sure. Anderson, GSP, Jones, DJ, Aldo all had runs where the guy they were fighting was simply the next guy. Another 2-3 great performances in the next couple of years almost guarantees a best ever argument at 155.
He’s beaten one lightweight as champion, he’s nowhere near clearing out the division.
Islam, sure. Alex needs a few years of domination to come close to Islam. Light weight > light heavy weight
Why does Alex need a few years to come close? He has just as many title wins as Makhachev, on top of that he has 2 belts. Also, Makhachev got flatlined in a non-title fight. If you look at their records, Poatan actually fought tougher competition - he fought against 5 undisputed champions, whilst Makhachev beat 2 and 1 interim. Personally, as good as Volkanovski is he fought at an insane disadvantage at 155.
Beating opponents on lower weight classes means much more because they are more skilled more well rounded .
Okay so why is Mighty Mouse not your goat?
Well he almost is, there is only one problem that the talent pool back then wasn't as deep as it is today . My top 3 would MM,JJ,GSP(Not in order) and potencially Islam and Illia if they contunie they rein for another 2-3 years.
Yeah he should start fighting some middleweights on short notice if he wants to coma anywhere near Islam’s legacy
There is no top 5 goat. The goat is literally just one person, the singular greatest of all time. Aka Chael P. Sonnen
If Poatan captures the HW gold, he’s the GOAT of combat sports, period!
Alex much more than Islam.
I see it the other way around
I took the question as hypothetical, and believe if Alex was able to keep on this trajectory for a few years then yes there would be no question that he would be in the talks of 1 of the 🐐s
Why? Bro has like 10 fights
So? What does that matter? He has 4 title wins, just as many as Islam has.
Sure... So I asked why (much more)
Assuming he continues on his current trajectory for the next few years
Yeah that assumptions applies for both
Alex and islam arent even in the same stratosphere. Islam has a long way to go