It is safe to say that Islam Makhachev isn’t living in Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s shadow anymore. He has stepped out, lit the fire, and may have just gotten past his legendary mentor. A bold statement, right? Well, the dominant Dagestani has stepped up big time and carried the legacy of his coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, and his mentor quite well. After years of comparisons, doubts, and great expectations, the lightweight juggernaut appears to have won something more than a belt: recognition!

And with these, the MMA world has finally started a real, yet quite uncomfortable conversation: Has Makhachev already beaten Nurmagomedov in the lightweight GOAT debate? Well, Aljamain Sterling‘s answer is a confident yes. And honestly? It’s quite difficult to argue with him. The former bantamweight champion did not avoid the subject in his most recent YouTube video.

He stated clearly that Makhachev’s lightweight run is superior to Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s. Not due to impressive knockouts or trash talk. But because of the grind and the quality of the fighters he has defeated. When many believed he had finally hit max, he did not stop. He kept on going. He said, “Islam is one of the greatest lightweights of all time, in my opinion. I think he surpasses Khabib just based on how active he’s been.”

He further added, “In terms of Khabib’s run, I think Khabib has a total of like 13 or 14 UFC fights. I think Islam is already past that, if I’m not mistaken. I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure.” Look at the names. Charles Oliveira? Destroyed. Alexander Volkanovski? Defeated twice, once on short notice and again while he was regarded as the world’s best fighter as per the P4P rankings.

But that’s not all, as Makhachev then faced and defeated Dustin Poirier in a fight that was no less than a war inside the Octagon. That victory alone revealed more about his championship grit than any highlight-reel event. He’s not simply running through opponents; he’s changing, evolving, and consistently proving that he belongs among the best of the best.

And then there are the numbers. ‘The Eagle,’ of course, retired 29-0. That record is iconic. However, he retired after only three title defenses. Makhachev, on the other hand? Well, he even surpassed that record with four at UFC 311 in his latest title defense and holds the division record for the same. In fact, the only way to get him off the throne was when he announced he was vacating the gold for a new challenge at welterweight. Most fighters would be quite satisfied with dominating one division. Makhachev? He’s chasing two. That explains a lot.

Now, as he sets his sights on Jack Della Maddalena and the welterweight title, Islam Makhachev may create history yet again. If he wins the belt, there won’t be debates over whether he passed Khabib; people will start wondering if he is the greatest of his generation. Perhaps even of all time. And to think he did all of this while carrying the weight of a legacy—and then rewriting it in his own name. But will he be able to pull it off? Well, not according to Team Della Maddalena.

Team Jack Della Maddalena predicts a major win against Islam Makhachev

It’s almost poetic—just as Islam Makhachev is about to take flight and reinvent his legacy, Jack Della Maddalena and his team are planning to clip his wings. While the MMA world debates the Dagestani’s greatness, there is a quiet, rising confidence on the opposite side. Maddalena’s coach, Ben Vickers, is not getting into the Makhachev hype. In fact, after closely studying the Poirier bout, he is confident that the Aussie will knock him out.

“I think it’s cool. It gives us the opportunity to have that scrap. He’s pound-for-pound No. 1, so if I think Jack’s the best in the world, then he should be able to beat that guy.” Vickers told Submission Radio.

He added, “I had a lot of time on my hands in the last x-amount of hours coming back from Canada, and I watched a bit of footage on Makhachev, in particular the [Dustin] Poirier fight. I’ve never watched Makhachev before as a potential opponent. I’ve always just enjoyed him fighting because he’s brilliant to watch, but I think Jack will knock him out.”

Vickers believes that’s enough time for someone like Maddalena, who thrives under pressure and at a fast pace, to step in and make an impact. There’s also the weight issue. Maddalena is naturally larger, accustomed to carrying that frame, and has been preparing for this sort of chaos.

Add in a recent win against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 as a “perfect warm-up,” and you can see why the Australian camp isn’t blinking. And it is exactly what makes Makhachev’s next fight so dangerous. He’s not only battling for gold; he’s in another weight class, up against someone with knockout power and no fear. What do you think? Will he be able to pull it off? Let us know in the comments.