After winning titles at both lightweight and welterweight, Islam Makhachev is already the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in MMA, but is his resume enough that he should be in consideration as the greatest of all-time?
Makhachev’s longtime coach Javier Mendez certainly thinks so, especially considering the way he has run roughshod over his competition in two weight classes. At UFC 330, Makhachev attempts to add the first defense of his welterweight title to his record when he faces Ian Machado Garry in the main event.
While Jon Jones is most often called the GOAT, Mendez argues that Makhachev is actively putting together a list of accolades that can’t be touched by anybody else in the sport.
“The sky’s the limit as to how far he’s going to go,” Mendez told MMA Fighting via NewBettingSites.uk. “My opinion, I think he’s bordering on close to being the greatest of all-time.
“This win, hopefully we get by this one, and then one more, then I don’t know if there’s going to be any question who is the greatest fighter of all time. I think Islam Makhachev should be considered in that picture. My opinion.”
At lightweight, Makhachev already set the record for the most title defenses in history with four in a row before he gave up that title to pursue a second championship at 170 pounds.
Makhachev dominated Jack Della Maddalena in lopsided fashion to win the welterweight title, and now he’s looking to add more title defenses to his record in that division.
That’s why Mendez says it’s getting harder and harder to avoid having that conversation about Makhachev’s greatness when compared to every other fighter in the history of the sport.
“It’s hard not to put him in that conversation,” Mendez said. “Look at all the records he holds. If he wins this one, which we can’t say we’re going to win 100 percent because nothing is 100 percent, Ian Garry is a tough customer, but I feel we’re going to win and I feel Islam’s going to dominate. But when that happens like I’m expecting, I’m expecting he’s going to be in that picture.
“Everybody’s going to be saying that about him and they should rightfully so, and he would have proven it by his performance on Aug. 15. He’s going to prove it.”
Of course, Makhachev is favored to win in his upcoming fight against Garry on Aug. 15 in Philadelphia, but Mendez knows this is going to be a tough matchup no matter what the odds say.
While there were plenty of people calling for Michael Morales to get the title shot after he demolished Sean Brady in his most recent outing, it was Garry who got the call.
Truth be told, Mendez believes the UFC made the right choice.
“I’ll tell you, I’m impressed with him. I’m very impressed with him,” Mendez said about Garry. “If we’re realistic and being honest, I thought [Jack Della Maddalena] was our toughest guy for Islam to have fought, but after watching Ian Garry, he is actually quicker and just a little bit better all the way around. He’s a tough challenge. We can’t overlook him at all. I know Islam is not going to [overlook him] because he never does. Islam’s going to do what he does best, which is outwork the individual where he needs to.
“But Ian Garry is a serious contender. I think he’s more well-rounded than Michael [Morales]. I think he’s more well-rounded than Carlos Prates. But those guys are all in the picture. They’re all in the picture. But I think Ian Garry is the deserved guy.”
Whether it’s Garry, Morales, Shavkat Rakhmonov or anybody else, Mendez knows that Makhachev is disciplined enough to get ready for any of them and then put on another dominant performance.
“That’s the goal always for Islam to go out and do what he does best,” Mendez said. “What he does best, he’s a coach’s dream. He’s low maintenance and easily dictates how he should fight.
“He’s going to listen to Khabib [Nurmagomedov]. He’s going to listen to me. He’s going to listen to all the coaches. He’s always been that person. He’s never been that person. He never does what he wants. He does what the coaches want. Because usually he knows it’s the right thing. We have a great fighter on our hands, and he’s just going to become greater and greater.”
