MMA fans have always found themselves polarized over the G.O.A.T. debate. Although the UFC had promoted Jon Jones as the greatest in the build-up to his return bout at UFC 295, there are numerous fans and MMA personalities who don’t agree with the UFC’s narrative. Also, the debate gets more intense when it comes to the UFC’s Lightweight division.

Just like the entire G.O.A.T. debate, UFC fans have also been in splits regarding their choice of the greatest UFC Lightweight. Further, the startling performance of the former UFC Lightweight champ, Charles Oliveira, at UFC 289 might compel a lot of fans to rethink their choice. However, Islam Makhachev’s current, and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s former coach, Javier Mendez, revealed that he was free of any such thoughts.

Despite lauding ‘Do Bronx’s’ superb in-octagon prowess at UFC 289, Mendez didn’t have any change in his opinion about the greatest UFC Lightweight.

If not Charles Oliveira, then who is the greatest UFC Lightweight in Mendez’s opinion?

This whole topic came into the discussion when Javier Mendez appeared on a recent episode of the YouTube Podcast, ‘Submission Radio’. The two hosts started off by asking for the AKA coach’s views about the superb performance of Charles Oliveira at UFC 289. ‘Do Bronx’ scored an awesome second-round TKO triumph over his UFC 289 opponent, Beneil Dariush. Following his victory, the Brazilian was lauded by a number of UFC fans and personalities.

Mendez also appreciated Oliveira wholeheartedly. After revealing that he had his money on Dariush, the former kickboxer said, “I should not have underestimated how great he is as a champion.” However, right after this, he accused some people of distorting his words.

Mendez mentioned, “Now people say, ‘You said he was the greatest’. I never said he was the greatest. I said he was a great champion.”

The AKA coach continued, “And I still don’t think he’s the greatest Lightweight, but I still say he’s a great fighter, for damn sure, and one of the greatest for sure. But not the greatest”.

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Further, talking about his choice of the “greatest Lightweight”, Mendez stated, “The greatest in Lightweight I still think is Khabib, in my opinion. Most UFC fans themselves know that there are lots who share this opinion with Mendez.

Was Khabib Nurmagomedov really better than Oliveira?

Well, there can be multiple opinions about this one. The fans and experts giving priority to records will definitely choose Nurmagomedov over Oliveira. But, ‘the Brazilian’ has also showcased, in MMA fighting doesn’t happen only inside the cage.

The UFC rated Oliveira as a pretty average fighter in his initial days. Still, he fought every odd in his way to become one of the most elite Lightweights on the planet today. It’s intelligible that a lot of fans might view him as the greatest Lightweight due to his rise from a nobody to a household name.

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But Mendez and the ones like him also can’t be labeled incorrect. After all, when a fighter’s record reads 29-0, it’s quite understandable that a healthy chunk of fans and pundits will consider him the best. What is your opinion about this? Who do you think is the greatest UFC Lightweight?