“He didn’t stick around…” Dana White dismisses Khabib Nurmagomedov for ‘GOAT’ title over Jon Jones

The status of the UFC GOAT is tossed around quite a lot. Some notable mentions are Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Demetrius Johnson. However, for Dana White, there is only one undisputed GOAT. The UFC CEO firmly stated his stance on Jon Jones being the undisputed GOAT over Khabib Nurmagomedov.

White made the strong declaration in a recent interview with Lex Fridman. He rejected any notion that Nurmagomedov’s incredible resume stacked up to Jones’. Dana White cited Jones’ historic dominance at light heavyweight. He then highlighted Jones seamlessly moving up and winning the heavyweight title. This is what he said when asked about Khabib:

I think that Khabib had the potential to be in the running for that. He just didn’t stick around a lot. First of all, he had injuries that, you know, he should have been where he got a lot sooner…But there’s no doubt. Khabib is one of the all-time greats.

Dana White via Lex Fridman YT

Khabib Nurmagomedov dealt with many injuries in his early UFC career. At one point, he defeated Rafael dos Anjos dominantly. However, injuries prevented Khabib from entering the title picture. A fully healthy RDA put on a winning streak and fought for the title in less than a year. Imagine what would have happened if Khabib didn’t have injury issues at that time.

White emphasized longevity as a key factor in determining the GOAT discussion. He felt Jones’ decade-plus reign at the top put him over anyone. White felt it was no contest as the Jones vs. Nurmagomedov GOAT debate raged on. Jones’ record and championship dominance reign supreme over all others in his eyes.

Dana White summarizes his relationship with Conor McGregor

Recent months featured some controversial moments between Dana White and Conor McGregor. Nevertheless, the UFC CEO only had complimentary words to speak about McGregor. In a recent interview with Lex Fridman, White gushed over his relationship with the superstar.

Fridman asked Dana White about his relationship with the Irish superstar. This question came after rumors about their relationship getting sour emerged. White handled this question with grace. He had nothing but respect and admiration for McGregor. This is what he said:

There's literally no ugly. Conor McGregor has been an incredible partner to work with. If Conor showed up on time, there couldn't be one f**king bad thing.

Dana White via Lex Fridman YT

But that flaw seemed trivial compared to the numerous positives White highlighted. He lauded McGregor’s willingness to compete against any opposition without complaints. The UFC boss suggested very few contemporary stars possessed that mentality. He believed it was a major key to McGregor’s lucrative success. The glowing endorsement provided a rare insight into their dynamic from White’s perspective. It contradicted the notion that tension existed over McGregor’s remaining UFC contract fights.

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