Joe Rogan believes that Islam Makhachev has surpassed Khabib Nurmagomedov in terms of greatness.
Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) vacated the UFC lightweight title he had held for almost 3 years in 2025 in order to move up and challenge for the welterweight title. After dominating Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November to win the 170-pound belt, UFC color commentator Rogan feels that Makhachev has proven that he is a better all-round fighter than his coach and mentor Nurmagomedov(29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC), who held the lightweight strap before him.
“Khabib is, without doubt, one of the all-time greats, one of the greatest to ever do it,” Rogan told Gable Steveson on the latest episode of his podcast The Joe Rogan Experience. “But the difference between Khabib and Islam is Islam (has) elite stand-up. Khabib was a very good stand-up, but Islam knocked out Volkanovski with a head kick. That's not in Khabib's repertoire. Islam is on another level. It's like one more level above. He can knock you out (on the feet), he can knock you out on the ground, he can submit you, he can take you down, he can make you lose. He's f***ing huge for the weight class, especially 155 (pounds).
“It's like there's so many aspects and you're always thinking about that grappling when you're striking. So when you say, like, ‘oh, you know, who's a better striker, Islam or Jack Della Maddalena?’ Well, it depends. Because if you've got to worry about that takedown, your striking is not going to be the same. It's just not going to be the same. Because everything he does, you're always looking for that takedown. And that factor leads to guys getting hit all the time.”
