UFC 311 mailbag: Where do Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili belong on the list of GOATs?

UFC 311 is within the books and the champions stay the identical.

On Saturday, Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili retained their titles, defeating Renato Moicano and Umar Nurmagomedov, respectively. For Makhachev it was one other sensational efficiency in opposition to a late substitute, whereas for Dvalishvili it was a show of simply what makes him nice, and a chance to show the doubters flawed.

So after such nice performances, let’s discuss each males and their legacies within the sport.

Islam Makhachev

“With Islam and 155, are we on the level of semantics together with his all time inserting? Khabib is healthier (we predict) as a fighter, however Islam is now larger by advantage of accomplishment. Islam’s 1 loss outweighed by the additional title protection kind of factor. Additionally, if not Arman, who subsequent?”

There’s rather a lot to unpack with Islam following his win on Saturday, however let’s begin with the assertion that Khabib Nurmagomedov is healthier than Islam, as a result of I don’t suppose that’s true. Sure, as coaching companions it was clearly established Khabib was the superior fighter, however that was pre-prime Islam versus peak Khabib. I consider there’s a very severe query as to who’s the “higher” fighter should you’re matching peak for peak. Khabib is the extra explosive and highly effective athlete, however Islam is extra technically refined and definitely has a extra various set of abilities. If I needed to guess, I’d really enterprise that Islam is the higher of the 2.

Then again, it’s fairly clear to me that Khabib is the extra completed of the 2, a minimum of in the mean time. Going undefeated is clearly an unimaginable feather in his cap, however greater than that it’s the standard of his title reign. Khabib beat three champions whereas holding the belt, and did so dominantly. In distinction, Makhachev’s defenses are two in opposition to a featherweight (sure, a pound-for-pound nice however nonetheless) with a type of being on brief discover, a past-his-prime nice who Khabib beat higher, and now a top-10 light-weight who was additionally on brief discover. It’s not Makhachev’s fault issues broke like this, nevertheless it’s not the identical high quality by a protracted stretch.

On prime of that, “greatness” can also be about narrative. The one loss issues, the truth that he was secondary to Khabib once they had been on the identical health club issues, and Khabib serving because the vanguard and figurehead of the Dagestan takeover issues. All of that tilts the light-weight GOAT argument in favor of Khabib. However that doesn’t imply he’ll at all times have it. Setting the document for light-weight title defenses, in my thoughts, formally strikes Islam previous B.J. Penn into the No. 2 spot and opens the ground for dialogue. If he picks up one or two extra, Islam will take the belt.

So far as who’s subsequent, my guess is Charles Oliveira? I don’t like it, however Oliveira is the No. 2 man and coming off a win. Plus, he was imagined to get a rematch however then Tsarukyan’d himself out of it, so now they’ll do this. It’s a great battle and actually, it doesn’t actually matter. I simply wish to see one of the best fighter on the planet proceed to battle prime opposition.

Selecting Nits

“When Makhachev will get nuked by a related light-weight, how indignant will folks be wanting again on his title reign?”

Sir, we will at all times critique a title reign (and I believe we must always!) however let’s be a little bit wise about issues. It’s not like Makhachev has been smashing cans. Makhachev has wins over 5 of the light-weight top-10 proper now, plus a pair of wins over the No. 11 pound-for-pound fighter in Alexander Volkanovski. The circumstances will not be optimum however these are related lightweights. Islam simply occurs to have his profession coincide with a interval the place the highest of his division is populated with lots of previous names. Jon Jones had the identical factor occur. Generally it’s simply how the cookie crumbles.

Moreover, what light-weight goes to nuke him? Renato Moicano is a rattling good fighter and he lasted solely barely longer than you or I might have. Arman Tsarukyan is one of the best hope, clearly, however he was additionally an enormous underdog heading into that rematch and I see no purpose to suppose Makhachev is falling off.

Sure, it’s a little bit wonky, however we’re presently watching one of many biggest fighters of all time compete and we must always all sit again and revel in it since you by no means know the way lengthy that may final.

Merab Dvalishvili

“What did specialists get flawed about Umar vs. Merab flawed?”

It’s me. I’m the “specialists.” I picked Umar to beat Merab on Saturday and boy was I flawed.

I can’t converse for all of the specialists who picked Umar however for myself, I believe I received two issues flawed about this battle, one which I a minimum of knew I might be flawed about and one I used to be in no way ready for.

The one factor I didn’t consider in any respect was Merab’s potential to compete on the ft. To place it plainly, Merab is just not a great striker and Umar is a fairly good one, and that’s how issues performed out on Saturday — till they didn’t. I used to be below the impression that Umar would make issues far more tough on Merab within the hanging portion of issues, working the physique and the jab, and hitting him rather a lot, and early on there was a few of that, however because the rounds drew on that fell off steeply. Merab’s willingness to take one to offer one and his fixed work fee stymied Umar greater than I believed. I’m certain Umar wish to blame that on the damaged hand, however that’s the sport. Shit occurs, adapt and overcome. He didn’t.

The factor that I believed may occur however I wasn’t anticipating was that Merab may merely do his model by means of Umar opposition. Certain, Umar stuffed takedowns and hit Merab steadily on the ft, however the champion merely simply saved coming. He pressured Umar to work continuously and whereas he may win just a few rounds by having the ability to sustain and being technically superior, ultimately he faltered. Merab didn’t falter. Make no mistake, it is a fairly dangerous matchup for Merab on paper, however he merely pushed by means of it with effort. I gained’t fake to get pleasure from Merab’s model as a result of I don’t, however it’s undeniably extremely spectacular.

Merab’s legacy

“Not speaking GOAT, however is Merab one of the best bantamweight ever? T.J.’s greatest performances had been extra flawless, however I really feel like Merab face to face beats each different all time bantamweight.”

It is a actually onerous query for me to reply as somebody who doesn’t look after Merab’s model. It’s undeniably efficient however simply not for me. I don’t watch crossfit regardless of that being extremely spectacular, and that’s sort of what Merab’s sport is: turning every little thing right into a check of cardio and can.

So with that preface, settle for that I could also be a bit biased once I say I believe T.J. Dillashaw remains to be one of the best bantamweight I’ve ever seen. On the peak of his powers, Dillashaw was among the best pound-for-pound fighters within the sport, and I believe would give Merab a really onerous battle. That being stated, I believed Umar would additionally and that was not the case. (Additionally, there’s the entire PED stuff that comes with Dillashaw however I don’t personally care about that.) It’s completely potential Merab would Merab him the identical as everybody else.

Nevertheless, I do suppose the subject of bantamweight GOAT is rapidly coming into body for Merab. He’s present run is one of the best run in divisional historical past and the one actual knock on his case is tenure. Merab solely has one title protection, which makes it onerous to place him even above somebody like Aljamain Sterling within the dialog, a lot much less Dominick Cruz, however these defenses are coming.

It looks as if Merab’s subsequent to opponents can be rematches with Sean O’Malley and Petr Yan. Contemplating how he dominated each the primary time round, there’s a robust probability Merab has three title defenses below his belt earlier than 2026, and if that’s the case, that’s most likely GOAT completed and dusted. Dominick Cruz formally has 4 bantamweight title defenses (together with WEC defenses, which clearly ought to depend) and actually 5 since he didn’t lose his belt within the cage, and beat T.J. Dillashaw to reclaim the title. Merab’s three plus the energy of the remainder of his resume places him at No. 1 all time if he can have a robust 12 months.

Champ champ

“How would a battle between Alexandre Pantoja and Merab play out?”

Similar as each Merab battle: Dvalishvili by unanimous determination.

At this level it ought to be fairly clear that the one approach to beat Merab is to complete him and for pretty much as good as Pants is, that appears unlikely. He would get Merab’d tremendous onerous.

Struggle of the Night time

“Was Umar vs Merab actually the FOTN? Wasn’t Jiri vs Hill higher?”

Clearly it wasn’t Struggle of the Night time. Merab vs. Umar was a high-level, fascinating battle that was made to be higher by the truth that Merab pulled off the upset. On a weak card, that might be a tremendous Struggle of the Night time alternative. However no person goes to return and watch that one repeatedly for enjoyable.

Jiri Prochazka vs. Jamahal Hill was whole anarchy from the opening bell, with large momentum swings culminating in a end. Numbers don’t at all times inform the story, Jiri vs. Jamahal had solely marginally fewer important strikes in roughly half the time of the principle occasion, had two knockdowns, and a end. That battle was enjoyable to look at should you knew nothing about combating. Merab vs. Umar was spectacular to look at, however enjoyable wasn’t precisely on the menu.

Jamahal Hill received robbed of $50,000.

Thanks for studying and due to everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you’ve any burning questions on issues a minimum of considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you definitely’re in luck as a result of you possibly can ship your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply my favourite ones! It doesn’t matter in the event that they’re topical or insane, simply as long as they’re good. Thanks once more, and see y’all subsequent week.