Islam Makhachev (top) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (bottom) each have
a case for UFC GOAT. | 📷: Getty/UFC

Conor
McGregor doesn't harbor any ill will towards Islam
Makhachev.

McGregor recently listed his greatest fighters of all time in the

Ultimate Fighting Championship. He ranked himself as the
greatest while slamming the legacy of Makhachev's friend and
mentor, Khabib
Nurmagomedov. However, the former two-division champion had
nothing bad to say about Makhachev.

Why Conor McGregor ranks Islam Makhachev ahead of Khabib
Nurmagomedov and Daniel Cormier

McGregor believes Makhachev ranks above Nurmagomedov on the GOAT
list. He argues that Makhachev not only has titles in two weight
classes, but also more finishes in the UFC than “The Eagle.†The
Irishman has him above Daniel
Cormier as well.

While some believe Makhachev is nearing retirement, McGregor
believes the UFC welterweight champion has a lot left in him.

“He's above Khabib. Finishes, body of work, both divisions. For
sure, he is. Still at it,†he told Complex. “There's a lot left in
that boy, and he should recognize that and keep going. I have him
above both his teammates there, Cormier and [Nurmagomedov].â€

While Nurmagomedov (29-0) defended the lightweight title thrice,
Makhachev (28-1) broke his record by defending it four times before
moving up to welterweight. The latter dominantly dethroned Jack
Della Maddalena to win the 170-pound title this past
November.

Makhachev is now scheduled to defend his title against Ian Garry at
UFC
330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, McGregor (22-6) is set to return in a welterweight
matchup against Max
Holloway (27-9) at
UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Nikita Krylov would like to be the wrench in a former's champ's
plans at 205 pounds. | 📷: Getty/UFC

Nikita
Krylov wants to play spoiler for Robert
Whittaker's light heavyweight move.

Whittaker (26-9) is set to make his light heavyweight debut in the

Ultimate Fighting Championship against Krylov (31-11) at

UFC 329 on Saturday, July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las
Vegas.

Krylov believes Whittaker envisions a light heavyweight move like
Alex
Pereira, who went on to win the title at 205 pounds. However,
the Ukrainian-born Russian fighter has claimed that the former
middleweight champion's move up is more likely to end up like
Israel
Adesanya’s or Chris
Weidman's.

Nikita Krylov says Robert Whittaker’s light heavyweight move
mirrors Israel Adesanya

Adesanya only fought once at light heavyweight, losing his title
bid to then-champion Jan
Blachowicz in 2021. Weidman had also moved back to middleweight
after being thwarted at light heavyweight by Dominick
Reyes in 2019. Krylov hopes to send Whittaker back to 185
pounds in a similar fashion.

“It looks like he wants to move up like Alex
Pereira. But I think it may end up the way it did in Adesanya's
case,†Krylov told Red Corner MMA. “Jan Blachowicz beat Israel
Adesanya; Dominick Reyes beat Chris Weidman; I'd like to see
something similar for Robert as well.â€

Whittaker never reclaimed his middleweight title after losing it to
Adesanya in 2019. The Australian is moving up to light heavyweight
on the back of consecutive losses to Khamzat
Chimaev and Reinier
de Ridder.

Meanwhile, Krylov has gone 6-6 in the UFC since making his Octagon
debut in 2018. He is coming off a stoppage win over Modestas
Bukauskas, rebounding from back-to-back losses to Reyes and
Bogdan
Guskov.

Fifteen years of Filipino combat sports history walk into the ring again this July, carrying the same quiet humility that built it all.

Former multi-time ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Eduard Folayang meets Japanese judoka Shozo Isojima in a lightweight MMA co-main event at The Inner Circle 21 on Friday, July 10. The bout streams live for members from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Folayang has spent 15 years building a reputation as one of ONE Championship's most respected competitors. That reputation now enters its twilight stage against a hungry challenger.

Isojima announced himself in the promotion with a dominant TKO of Nicolas Vigna at ONE Fight Night 36 last October. His wrestling and ground-and-pound offense have troubled every opponent he has faced.

The 28-year-old Japanese star brings a 14-year age advantage into the matchup, a gap Folayang has no interest in hiding from. That honesty extends directly into his fight preparation.

“I've never underestimated any opponent, and I never will. I can't say I'm more experienced, although it is an advantage for me, but nothing is certain in this sport,†he stated.

“I see him as a dangerous opponent, especially if he gets to his spots, which is his wrestling.

“The game plan is to make him play to my strengths, which will always be my striking. I need to be careful in instances where he can close in and dictate his style. The key for me is movement, finding my rhythm, and connecting on my combinations.â€

Eduard Folayang studies Shozo Isojima's exploitable weaknesses

Eduard Folayang has done his homework on more than just Isojima's power. He has broken down the Japanese judoka's two most recent losses for clues.

Both defeats came against elite grapplers, and Folayang sees a pattern he intends to exploit if the opportunity arrives.

“There are instances where capitalizing on small opportunities will come. Tye Ruotolo is an amazing grappler, and he was able to impose his will. Adrian also finished him on the ground, so I see he still has vulnerabilities there as well,†the Baguio City native noted.

“The biggest prediction is I'll win. How? I guess your guess is as good as mine. That's a good question, how I'll win. I'll leave it as a question for now and have the answers come fight time. I'm just predicting I'll win in any way I can.â€