Nate Diaz dismisses Islam Makhachev‘s achievements, questioning his status as the top pound-for-pound fighter, and instead praises Ilia Topuria and considers Jon Jones the best.
Nate Diaz isn’t too impressed with Islam Makhachev. After UFC 322, Makhachev made a strong case for being the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. He snagged a lopsided decision win over Jack Della Maddalena, marking his 16th straight victory and adding the welterweight title to his achievements. Not too shabby, right?
But Diaz thinks otherwise. Makhachev’s got some serious competition at the top. Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira have also claimed titles in two divisions. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili is gearing up for his fourth championship defense at UFC 323. Despite Makhachev’s dominance, Diaz believes he’s got more to prove.
“They just throw that stuff out like that,” Diaz said on N3on’s Twitch stream. “He’s been here for, like, two minutes and hasn’t beaten anyone great.” For Diaz, the best lightweight ever was B.J. Penn. Remember when Penn was taking on Matt Hughes and GSP? Yeah, he lost to GSP, but he sure put up a fight.
Diaz argues that calling Makhachev the GOAT is premature. “You’re just gonna throw GOAT at a guy who just showed up?” he questioned. Makhachev has continued the legacy of Khabib Nurmagomedov, his friend and mentor. Both are known for using wrestling to dominate, but not everyone finds their style thrilling.
Diaz has often criticized fighters who prioritize control over excitement. “They think I’m just hating,” he said. “But there’s stuff I’ve seen that’s real GOAT material. I haven’t seen that from them. Their fights? Boring.”
When asked about Topuria, Diaz had kinder words. In 17 pro bouts, Topuria remains undefeated, capturing titles at 155 and 145 pounds. He’s beaten top fighters like Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski, and Max Holloway. “He’s a more complete fighter,” Diaz said. “Remember B.J. Penn vs. Takanori Gomi? I couldn’t wait for that.”
And who does Diaz think should be pound-for-pound No. 1? “Jon Jones, for sure,” he declared.