“I want to be the next Khabib. I want to be like Khabib,” admitted Islam Makhachev nearly four years ago, back when his name first began appearing in title-contention talks. Fast forward to today, and Makhachev has firmly carved out his place among the greatest lightweights in UFC history. Guided by the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov and later supported by ‘The Eagle’ in his corner, he went on to defeat elite names like Alexander Volkanovski (twice), Charles Oliveira, and Dustin Poirier during a remarkable championship run.

Still, unlike Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev doesn’t carry an undefeated résumé, but fans have never stopped comparing the two. After ruling the lightweight division for years, he now turns to a new challenge. Tonight, he makes his welterweight debut against reigning champion Jack Della Maddalena inside a packed Madison Square Garden. With the MMA world locked in, one question continues to drive the debate: has Islam Makhachev already surpassed ‘The Eagle’ as the lightweight GOAT?

Does Islam Makhachev have more title defenses than Khabib Nurmagomedov?

Even though Khabib Nurmagomedov retired in late 2020, fans still closely measure Islam Makhachev’s achievements against the Hall of Famer’s legendary career.

Looking at ‘The Eagle’s record, many of his early opponents were either newcomers or fighters still finding their footing. Even among notable UFC names like Rafael dos Anjos, Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje, the rest of his opponents didn’t match the same elite standard. They were skilled, but not as proven or well-rounded.

Makhachev, by contrast, has consistently faced top-tier competition throughout his ascent.

From outmatching elite wrestlers like Arman Tsarukyan to defeating former supports such as Charles Oliveira and Alexander Volkanovski, his résumé reflects a higher level of opposition. Even fighters like Dan Hooker and Bobby Green posed significant challenges.

Considering this, many argue that Islam Makhachev has already eclipsed his mentor. By defending his title four times, he has broken the all-time record previously held by Khabib Nurmagomedov and BJ Penn, who each managed three defenses.

Even Aljamain Sterling recently weighed in on the debate.

In a new video posted on his YouTube channel, Aljamain Sterling shared his belief that Islam Makhachev’s lightweight run surpasses Khabib Nurmagomedov. “Islam is one of the greatest lightweights of all time, in my opinion,” Sterling said. “In terms of Khabib’s run, I think Khabib had a total of 13 or 14 UFC fights. I think Islam is already past that.”

With their résumés compared, the next step is to take a closer look at how Makhachev and ‘The Eagle’ match up in terms of fighting styles.

Is Islam Makhachev better than Khabib? Striking, wrestling & championship achievements

Khabib Nurmagomedov built his legendary reputation through relentless wrestling, consistently taking opponents down, controlling them, and dominating on the ground. Throughout his career, he directed over 85% of his significant strikes to the head, mostly from a top position in ground-and-pound. Moreover, his grappling dominance is clear.

He ranks third in UFC history for most takedowns landed, with a 48% takedown accuracy.

In comparison, Islam Makhachev achieves a higher takedown accuracy of 54%, but he attempted fewer takedowns (69) than Nurmagomedov (129). Additionally, the Russian star secures more finishes and maintains a longer win streak, landing 59% of his strikes compared to Nurmagomedov’s 49%. While fans widely consider ‘The Eagle’ the GOAT, he relied on a largely one-dimensional style, whereas Makhachev brings a well-rounded skill set into every fight.

“Statistically, he’s the best lightweight to have done it right now,” said Robert Whittaker.

Furthermore, Islam Makhachev has recently submitted Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano, knocked out Alexander Volkanovski, and dropped Charles Oliveira with a right hand, proving that his striking and wrestling are equally effective.

Whereas Nurmagomedov relied almost exclusively on grappling to defeat opponents, Makhachev uses a variety of tools in the octagon. For instance, he favors head strikes, landing 57% of his attacks from a standing position, compared to 42% for ‘The Eagle’.

Meanwhile, only 24% of Makhachev’s strikes come from the ground, while Nurmagomedov delivers 54% of his strikes from grounded positions. Tonight, at UFC 322 inside Madison Square Garden, Islam Makhachev steps in to face Jack Della Maddalena. A victory here would firmly cement his rise and make it impossible to deny his potential to surpass the UFC Hall of Famer.

Stay tuned!