Khabib Nurmagomedov once said, “You come for money, I come for legacy,” during his fight with Conor McGregor. Now, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling believes that Khabib’s legacy is being surpassed by his teammate, Islam Makhachev. Sterling’s bold statement about Khabib’s legacy could stir reactions among Khabib’s fans.
Makhachev has surpassed Khabib’s record for the most title defenses in the UFC lightweight division. He’s now aiming to become a two-division champion by moving up to welterweight, with a title shot against Jack Della Maddalena on the horizon.
While many fans once hoped ‘The Eagle’ would take a similar path, he retired before making the move up in weight. Speaking on the topic of legacy, former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling said:
“I think he’s surpassed Khabib, just based on how active he’s been. Khabib had 13 fights — Islam is already past that. In my opinion, he’s surpassed him because of all the incredible guys he’s beaten to get to the belt, and the guys he’s beaten while holding it.”
🤔👀Aljamain Sterling believes Islam Makhachev already has better legacy than Khabib:
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 14, 2025
"I think he’s surpassed Khabib, just based on how active he’s been. Khabib had 13 fights — Islam is already past that.
In my opinion, he’s surpassed him because of all the incredible guys he’s… pic.twitter.com/5o1ZOMnr03
Sterling also highlighted Makhachev’s impressive performance in his fight against Charles Oliveira and praised him for his performance against Dustin Poirier.
Joe Rogan Thinks Prime BJ Penn Could’ve Beaten Khabib Nurmagomedov
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The UFC’s lightweight division has seen legends like Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and now Islam Makhachev. Known for its depth and high-level talent, it’s often considered the toughest weight class in the sport.
While Khabib is often hailed as the greatest lightweight ever, UFC commentator Joe Rogan believes a prime BJ Penn could have beaten him. On his podcast, Rogan said:
“People talk about Khabib being the greatest lightweight of all time, and maybe he is. It’s very possible he is. But I would put the BJ Penn that fought Joe Daddy Stevenson, the BJ Penn that fought Sean Sherk, the BJ Penn that was like in that peak. I would put him against anybody.”
Joe Rogan says peak BJ Penn could beat ANY lightweight ever — even Khabib 👀🔥
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) May 7, 2025
"People talk about Khabib being the greatest lightweight of all time, and maybe he is. It's very possible he is. But I would put the BJ Penn that fought Joe Daddy Stevenson, the BJ Penn that fought… pic.twitter.com/37xiwKhE1F
Rogan praised Penn’s well-rounded abilities, noting he was a threat both on the ground and on his feet. Many fans also regard Penn as one of the greatest lightweights, especially since he and Khabib share a similar number of title defenses in the division.
Also Read: Ilia Topuria Mocks Islam Makhachev, Vows To Chase Lightweight Gold At UFC 317 In Bold New Claim
