Georges St-Pierre’s Spot at Risk After Islam Makhachev UFC 322 Win, Says Jon Anik

Jon Anik suggests Islam Makhachev’s UFC 322 victory and Merab Dvalishvili's dominance puts Georges St-Pierre’s all-time position at risk.

Georges St-Pierre’s Spot at Risk After Islam Makhachev UFC 322 Win, Says Jon Anik

Jon Anik chooses Islam Makhachev to surpass Georges St Pierre (via Bleacher Report, Instagram)

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The debate over the greatest UFC fighter has raged for years, with Georges St-Pierre consistently at the forefront due to his historic dominance. In recent times, Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili have advanced toward a similar status. Their sustained winning streaks and championship success have placed them firmly in the company of the sport’s elite.

St-Pierre’s credentials include championship titles in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions. His résumé features victories over accomplished opponents such as Matt Hughes, BJ Penn, Carlos Condit, and Michael Bisping. These wins highlighted his adaptability across eras and weight classes. His longevity and consistency helped establish one of MMA’s strongest legacies.

Makhachev added to his career milestones at UFC 322 with a dominant win over Jack Della Maddalena. The victory earned him status as the tenth two-division champion in UFC history. It also marked his sixteenth consecutive win, tying Anderson Silva’s UFC record. His rise has led popular MMA analyst and commentator Jon Anik to identify him as the athlete closest to surpassing St-Pierre’s legendary standing.

This man [Islam] should be celebrated. We talk about Merab Dvalishvili being on a trajectory to be the greatest male mixed martial artist of all time, and he’s very much on a trajectory to unseat GSP and anybody else you want to mention. So is Islam Makhachev.

Jon Anik via The Anik and Florian Show

Makhachev’s development stems from early training in Dagestan, where a foundation in wrestling and strict conditioning shaped his athletic abilities. Under Khabib Nurmagomedov’s mentorship, he refined a disciplined and pressure-driven style. Khabib’s guidance helped him transition smoothly into elite competition. Their shared background has significantly influenced Makhachev’s championship form.

Anik also pointed to Dvalishvili, who holds a fourteen-fight win streak in the bantamweight division. He has defeated several ranked opponents, including José Aldo, Sean O’Malley, and Henry Cejudo. Interestingly, the Georgian champion’s coach, John Wood, recently dubbed Dvalishvili “this generation’s GSP,” as his run is among the most dominant in the 135-pound division’s recent history.

Merab Dvalishvili now prepares to face Petr Yan at UFC 323, aiming to become the first fighter to defend a UFC title four times in one year. The matchup carries significant stakes for the bantamweight division. Meanwhile, Islam Makhachev continues extending a résumé that draws ongoing comparisons to Georges St-Pierre. The coming years may reshape the sport’s all-time hierarchy.

Georges St-Pierre terms Islam Makhachev as the #1 Pound for Pound fighter

Discussions around the current pound-for-pound landscape continue to shift as recent performances reshape the hierarchy. With several champions delivering consistent results, ongoing evaluations focus on who holds the most substantial overall résumé. Newly crowned welterweight kingpin Islam Makhachev’s rise has once again placed him on top of the P4P rankings.

Islam Makhachev and Georges St-Pierre
Islam Makhachev and Georges St-Pierre (via X)

Before Makhachev claimed two-division championship status, he was ranked at #2 in the P4P rankings under lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, who is a two-division champion himself. However, after defeating Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322, Makhachev was promoted to the #1 ranking. Georges St-Pierre predicted the exact situation and had ranked the Dagestani superstar in his own list.

I would put Islam Makhachev at the top of the Pound for Pound rankings because of the level of competition he has faced in his weight class. Now he is attempting something very different which of course if he wins P4P. He is probably in my book the #1 P4P already.

Georges St-Pierre via Helen Yee Sports

While GSP identified Makhachev as the current frontrunner, he also recognized Topuria’s recent dominant surge at featherweight and lightweight. Additionally, he noted that Tom Aspinall’s pound-for-pound standing might have been higher if his first heavyweight title defense at UFC 321 had not ended in a no-contest. These factors contributed to his broader assessment of today’s elite.

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