After beating Ian Machado Garry in UFC 330, some of Islam Makhachev’s fans are already claiming that he’s now the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) in UFC history. But is he really?
The Résumé
The unanimous decision victory over Garry on Sunday was Makhachev’s 17th consecutive win—an impressive feat that breaks Anderson Silva’s 16-fight streak, which stood untouched for 13 years.
The 34-year-old Dagestani star has gone undefeated for 11 years, another remarkable achievement in the sport. However, a quick look at the scorecards shows that the heavily favored Makhachev barely edged the underdog Garry. Even he admitted that the Irish fighter gave him a tough bout inside the octagon.
Perhaps it wasn’t the dominant, intense, and spectacular performance many expected. Still, a win is a win, and the Dagestani got the job done.
With the record-breaking victory, the two-belt champ successfully defended his welterweight (170 pounds) championship. The elite grappler and wrestler now joins a short list of legends as one of only five fighters to defend titles in two different divisions. The others are Daniel Cormier, Randy Couture, Henry Cejudo, and Amanda Nunes.
Yet, does this long list of accolades, an impressive résumé, and the ability to dominate multiple weight classes already make Islam Makhachev the UFC’s GOAT?
Well, almost.
The One Loss That Lingers
After going undefeated for more than a decade, it’s easy to forget that Makhachev owns a 29-1 record. His lone blemish came in 2015, when Adriano Martins knocked him out at UFC 192.
Even Dana White has said that if that loss hadn’t happened, Makhachev would be undeniably the greatest fighter.
Although the Dagestani star has proved that one defeat does not define his career, it still leaves a subtle mark on his legacy.
Islam Makhachev’s Real Standing
For everything he has accomplished for the sport, his team, and his people, the current welterweight champ is undeniably a great champion.
However, the truth is he’s still far from becoming the “undisputed” GOAT. His fans and fellow Dagestanis may believe he’s already the greatest, but at best, Makhachev is a fringe top-five fighter all time.
UFC fans have varying opinions on the GOAT debate. If we’re drawing up a shortlist, names like Georges St-Pierre, Daniel Cormier, Demetrious Johnson, Jon Jones, and Makhachev’s close friend, mentor, and tactical coach Khabib Nurmagomedov would all be in the conversation.
For now, Makhachev is clearly the best of his era and, without question, the top welterweight and lightweight fighter today. That much is undisputed.
