Dana White has said Khabib Nurmagomedov is near to making a convincing case to be considered the greatest of all time in MMA.
The Dagestan-born Russian improved his record to 28-0 with 12 straight wins in the UFC after making Dustin Poirier tap to a rear-naked choke in the third round at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi.
“He’s a pretty special fighter,” White said at the post-event press conference on Saturday night. “He’s a couple fights away from potential ‘GOAT’ status.
“To go undefeated this long with this many fights, especially in a division that stacked, he’s looking down the barrel of a pretty special career.”
Khabib is putting together an impressive resume in the UFC, with victories against star names like Rafael Dos Anjos, Michael Johnson, Edson Barboza, Al Iaquinta and Conor McGregor.
He has said he will defend his title against Tony Ferguson next, in a fight that could well define his legacy – if the almost effortless manner in which he dispatched former interim champion Poirier has not already done so.UFC 242: Dana White says Conor McGregor rematch ‘makes sense’ if Tony Ferguson doesn’t want Khabib
“He looked unbelievable,” White said. “He was incredibly dominant, even though there was some drama in there when he was caught in the guillotine.
“A lot of people don’t get out of that, Dustin had that thing in deep, most would have tapped and gone to sleep, so props to him.”
Khabib admitted the guillotine was “very close” but that he was still in control. “It was very good. I expect it from him,” he said. “First time it was close, second time I gave him it because I feel he lost so much energy and power, this is part of the game, how I can play with my opponents, not many people can understand this.”
Khabib also was adamant he does not need to win a belt in another weight division to be remembered as one of the greats.
“No, I don’t wanna go,” he said. “I’m not a welterweight, and I’m not a featherweight. I’m lightweight champion, I wanna defend my title in the lightweight division.
“Welterweight maybe, but I don’t think about two belts, three belts, I already have three different belts. This one’s a little bit heavier. I feel great in the lightweight division.”
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