Islam Makhachev or Khabib Nurmagomedov? Most fans and fighters alike don’t want to talk much about this question as both fighters are seen as brothers. But with their impressive performances inside the Octagon the question sometimes comes up and Michael Chandler tried to answer this tough question.
https://youtu.be/bMV8SQsjbfE
During an appearance in the Believe You Me podcast by Michael Bisping and Anthony Smith, the former title challenger had this to say,
“Khabib (Nurmagomedov) [is better]. Only because we haven’t seen – I don’t know if I wanna call it aggression. I think it is aggression. When Khabib fought, and when he bear-hugged somebody, it was aggressive. Like, he wanted to break your spine. Islam (Makhachev), very effective, will take you guys down. But [with Khabib], it was like, ‘I wanna break your spine.’”
“Khabib was very active on top, constantly trying to catch a wrist and do damage. He went from [a] brilliant wrestler, ‘I wanna break your back,’ to like, straight up sledgehammer, ‘I wanna punch a hole through your head,’ while trash talking – that is unheard of,” he further added.
How does Michael Chandler’s comparison between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev stack up?
Islam Makhachev is currently scheduled to take on Pound for Pound number 1 fighter and featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski in a Lightweight title fight in Perth, Australia. Khabib has been to his side in one way or another till this part of his career but this time it’s different.
Back in his day, Khabib fought dangerous fighters like younger Rafael Dos Anjos, Michael Johnson, Al Laquinta, Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and, Justin Gaethje. He has pretty much dominated all of his fights and even the fights he faced some challenges in, he managed to eventually overcome.
Unfortunately, Makhachev has taken one loss at the early stages of his career. But in the future, the Dagestani could achieve great things both inside and outside the octagon.
