Khabib or Islam Makhachev? Tony Ferguson Claims Protege ‘Better’ Than Master with Stunning Praise

UFC lightweight veteran talks about Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov and compares their fighting styles.

Khabib or Islam Makhachev? Tony Ferguson Claims Protege ‘Better’ Than Master with Stunning Praise

Tony Ferguson believes Islam Makhachev has beaten Khabib Nurmagomedov's legacy (via Imago/X)

Following Khabib Nurmagomedov’s early UFC retirement, Islam Makhachev stepped up and filled the enormous void with unwavering conviction. He carried the Dagestani fighting legacy, capturing the UFC lightweight title and rising as the pound-for-pound king among elite fighters. Makhachev’s dominance and consistency in the lightweight division have impressed many legends, and that includes Tony Ferguson.

Despite never facing one another, Nurmagomedov and Ferguson’s rivalry remains among modern MMA’s most iconic and entertaining storylines ever. Both fighters were scheduled to fight each other on five different occasions, but every time the fight got cancelled. During a recent interview with Helen Yee Sports, Ferguson discussed multiple topics, including his detailed thoughts on longtime rival and the pound-for-pound ace.

Makhachev, defended his title how many times.? That’s much more than (Khabib) and he made weight so when it goes into it and you have that, I think it’s a smart move (moving up). When you go up, you’re gonna try to build a legacy, you’re gonna do certain things like that.

Throughout his career, Nurmagomedov faced criticism for being a weight bully and avoiding challenges from top welterweight contenders. However, Makhachev’s recent move up aims to silence similar doubts, proving his skills transcend divisions and aren’t limited to lightweight. Ferguson, having prepared multiple times for the ‘Eagle’, outlined the technical differences he sees between Makhachev’s and Nurmagomedov’s grappling style.

Someone was asking me who I think is a better wrestler out of Makhachev and Khabib. I think Makhachev is a better grappler, honestly. I think he’s faster. I think with Khabib, he’s a little more timid of the freestyle that Makhachev presents, but I think Makhachev isn’t gonna do so bad at 170lbs, he’s gonna be alright.

Nurmagomedov was known for taking his time and mauling his opponents for multiple rounds, taking them into deep waters. On the contrary, Makhachev likes to finish his opponents as soon as possible and has several tools to do so against elite opponents. His fighting style also includes judo trips and sharp striking, superior to Nurmagomedov’s.

Islam Makhachev to recreate Khabib Nurmagomedov’s rivalry with Ireland

In Khabib Nurmagomedov’s storied career, his heated rivalry with Conor McGregor became the defining moment that elevated him to superstardom. During their clash, the Dagestani controlled every round, ultimately submitting McGregor and silencing critics. After the victory, he leapt over the cage to confront McGregor’s teammate, triggering a massive post-fight brawl and media frenzy.

Islam Makhachev is to follow Khabib Nurmagomedov's road to superstardom
Islam Makhachev is to follow Khabib Nurmagomedov’s road to superstardom (via Imago)

It remains the highest-grossing pay-per-view event in UFC history, and the intense rivalry between nations continues to spark interest. Now, rising Irish star Ian Garry seeks superstardom and has expressed interest in facing Islam Makhachev soon. In a recent interview, Garry discussed challenging the pound-for-pound king and whether to potentially extend the historic Ireland versus Dagestan rivalry.

If people want to market it as Dagestan vs. Ireland if me and Islam Makhachev ever cross paths then they can. But I feel like that’s bringing in two people like Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov, who have had their rivalry and have done and said the things they’ve said. The truth is, this is Dagestan vs. Ireland, but it would be Islam vs. Ian. We can bring up the past, or we can focus on the present.

Garry, in his last bout, beat upcoming knockout star Carlos Prates via unanimous decision and is a top title contender. However, before fighting him, Makhachev needs to beat Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title. Till now, there has been no official announcement for the bout, but fans are definitely hyped about it.

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