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Michael Venom Page Questions Islam Makhachev’s No.1 P4P Status: It’s Too Early

Michael Venom Page Questions Islam Makhachev’s No.1 P4P Status: It's Too Early The debate over Islam Makhachev’s status as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in MMA continues to generate discussion, with…

The debate over Islam Makhachev’s status as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in MMA continues to generate discussion, with prominent voices like Michael ‘Venom’ Page weighing in. Page, who is competing in the UFC this weekend, recently shared his thoughts on Makhachev’s dominance and the pound-for-pound rankings.

Michael ‘Venom’ Page Talks Islam Makhachev and P4P

Islam Makhachev is a protege of the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov and teammate of Khabib Nurmagomedov who has been on an extraordinary run in the UFC. Makhachev has defended his lightweight title multiple times, including victories over elite opponents such as Alexander Volkanovski (twice), Charles Oliveira, and Dustin Poirier. His most recent win came against Renato Moicano at UFC 311 via first-round submission, setting a new record for lightweight title defenses in UFC history.

Islam Makhachev on Coach Khabib Nurmagomedov 1

Michael ‘Venom’ Page praised Makhachev’s skills, calling him “unbelievable” and a “force to be reckoned with.” However, he expressed reservations about labeling the UFC lightweight champion as the definitive pound-for-pound best. “Is he an incredible mixed martial artist? 100%. Is he a force to be reckoned with? 100%. Pound for pound? I don’t know yet,” Page said. He acknowledged Makhachev’s potential to become one of the greatest of all time but suggested that it might still be “early” to crown him as the top fighter across all divisions.

According to fan controlled rankings on Tapology and UFC official rankings, Islam Makhachev is unanimously chosen as the current top position on MMA’s overall pound-for-pound.

The English athlete Michael ‘Venom’ Page was a popular figure in Bellator with incredible knockouts. He is now competing in the UFC’s welterweight division. This weekend at UFC Riyadh, he will face the undefeated ‘Bullet‘ Shara Magomedov in a middleweight bout.

The debate over pound-for-pound supremacy will likely persist as fighters like Islam Makhachev continue to build their legacies while competitors and media like Page offer critiques from within the sport.

Dricus Du Plessis Willing To Fight Islam Makhachev For ‘Easy Payday’ When It Makes Sense

Dricus Du Plessis seems inclined to entertain a potential champ vs. champ showdown with Islam Makhachev, though he isn’t fully sold on the proposition just yet. Even before his dominant fourth title defense at UFC 311 against Renato Moicano, reigning lightweight champion Makhachev made no secret of his ambitions to claim gold in a second […]

Dricus Du Plessis seems inclined to entertain a potential champ vs. champ showdown with Islam Makhachev, though he isn’t fully sold on the proposition just yet.

Even before his dominant fourth title defense at UFC 311 against Renato Moicano, reigning lightweight champion Makhachev made no secret of his ambitions to claim gold in a second weight class.

However, a key obstacle stands in his way — Makhachev finds himself in a bit of a dilemma, as his strong relationship with current welterweight champion Belal Muhammad makes pursuing that matchup a tricky situation.

Consequently, Makhachev has put forth an audacious idea, expressing that he has the frame and tools necessary to ascend two weight classes and challenge Du Plessis for the middleweight title.

During a recent interview with mainevent, “Stillknocks” weighed in on Makhachev’s bold ambitions, offering a nod of respect for his exceptional talent.

However, Du Plessis made it clear that the Dagestani champion might be aiming a bit too high, suggesting that while Makhachev is undeniably skilled, he’s simply not on the level required to face a true 185-pound powerhouse like himself.

“It’s hard to really think and take it seriously right now,” Du Plessis said. “I’ve got a big fight coming up, so I didn’t make anything of it. If we get to a situation where we are not at right now — he’s an incredible fighter, make no mistake. He was so incredibly good against Moicano. He proved once again why he is the pound-for-pound best in the world.

“[But] I don’t care how good you are — he obviously trains with 185 [pound]ers in his gym, so he knows. He doesn’t train against me. Believe me, it’s not the same thing. Even on a technical level, the standup. His wrestling and grappling is phenomenal. I’d just overpower him, that’s what I think.

“Stillknocks” is set to defend his middleweight title against his former rival, Sean Strickland, in the headlining bout of UFC 312 on Feb. 8. If he emerges victorious, a showdown with the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev would likely be next on the horizon.

However, Du Plessis made it clear that if the UFC comes calling or special circumstances arise, he would be more than willing to shatter Makhachev’s dream of becoming a two-division titleholder.

“It makes a massive difference. He’s a big lightweight, but I’m a big middleweight. There’s a big difference between a big lightweight and a big middleweight. But if there’s ever the situation where there’s no fight for me, no fight for him that makes sense, I’ll be more than happy to do that. Easy payday.”

The 31-year-old South African was last in action at UFC 305 this past August, where he triumphed over former champion Israel Adesanya, submitting him to successfully defend his title for the first time.

Islam Makhachev Teases Change Of Stance On Fighting ‘Friend’ Belal Muhammad: ‘We Will See How The (Rakhmonov) Fight Goes…’

Islam Makhachev has made it very clear in recent times that his goal is to become a two-weight world champion by moving up to welterweight. He’s already tied for the second longest win streak in UFC history, meaning that isn’t exactly a whole queue of new and exciting opponents for him to face at lightweight. […]

It would be a shame if we don’t get to see the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the sport today get the opportunity to really test himself and in some ways, now might be the right time to pull the trigger. However, there is one issue with that plan.

Belal Muhammad has previously spent time training with Makhachev and the rest of their team before he won the 170-pound title at UFC 304 in July last year. Even if they both agreed to face each other, Muhammad already has his next title challenger lined up after Shavkat Rakhmonov defeated Ian Garry at UFC 310 when the champion withdrew due to an injury.

In the following video, originally posted by Ushatayka, the 155-pound king talks about the options for his next fight where he suggests that two-weight supremacy will be his next challenge.

“I don’t see a lot of work to do in my division, I beat almost everybody. I think about moving up to 170 and I can stay there.”

There is, of course, the small matter of his former training partner being the current champion at welterweight but Makhachev has made comments both before and after UFC 311 which suggest that he isn’t against the idea of challenging Muhammad if it means getting his hands on a second belt. He said that whilst he isn’t going to say anything for sure, there are conversations that need to happen in the near future.

“I don’t want to make any statements, we will see how the fight goes. I have not spoken to the UFC since my last fight, we need to sit and talk these moments.”

Fantasy Head-to-Toe Breakdown: Islam Makhachev vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov

Former UFC lightweight champion has long been considered one of the best fighters in the division’s history — and arguably one of the greatest fighters ever,…

Ex-Heavyweight Champion Blames ‘Insane Weight Cutting’ on Arman Tsarukyan’s UFC 311 Exit

Hours away from his first UFC title opportunity, Arman Tsarukyan was forced to bow out of his lightweight headliner…

Hours away from his first UFC title opportunity, Arman Tsarukyan was forced to bow out of his lightweight headliner with Islam Makhachev.

Tsarukyan ultimately withdrew from his UFC 311 headliner against the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ citing a back injury. However, some have suggested that there may be more to the Armenian’s exit than what he’s letting on.

During an in-studio appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett suggested the blame could potentially be placed on “insane weight-cutting” measures that resulted in ‘Ahalkalakets’ sustaining the unforeseen injury.

“You don’t get Arman Tsarukyan having back problems if you don’t have insane weight cutting,” Barnett said. “I truly believe that in doing his weight cut, he probably did hit a huge back spasm out of nowhere that completely took him by surprise. And was bad enough that, one, it was obviously going to impact his ability to cut weight, so how is he gonna make the weight class? And, two, could could be severe enough that he wouldn’t feel up to being able to compete the next day.”

“And this all comes from fighting under a ruleset that encourages you to game the system because everyone is doing it and there’s no way around it really.”

Dana White Implies Tsarukyan could have competed at UFC 311

Barnett isn’t the first person to imply that there was something a little suspicious behind Tsarukyan’s withdrawal.

During the UFC 311 post-fight press conference, CEO Dana White made it clear that he never wants to encourage a fighter to compete injured before revealing that ‘Ahalkalakets’ would have to “go back to the drawing” board if he hopes to get another crack at the 155-pound crown.

Tsarukyan has since snapped back at White during his own interview with Helwani, claiming he “couldn’t walk,” let alone compete on Saturday night in Los Angeles, but is more than willing to work his way back up the contender’s ladder if necessary.

Anthony Smith Maintains Jon Jones Is P4P Best Because Islam Makhachev ‘Has Taken A Legitimate Loss’

When it comes to the ever-polarizing pound-for-pound debate between Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev, UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith is in the corner of his former opponent. This past weekend, Makhachev did no harm to his claim to top spot, where he already currently sits in the official UFC rankings. The Dagestani secured a […]

When it comes to the ever-polarizing pound-for-pound debate between Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev, UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith is in the corner of his former opponent.

This past weekend, Makhachev did no harm to his claim to top spot, where he already currently sits in the official UFC rankings. The Dagestani secured a record-breaking fourth successful defense of his lightweight belt and fifth UFC title win at the expense of Renato Moicano.

One man who has long been against that has been UFC CEO Dana White, instead putting forth heavyweight kingpin Jones as the clear and obvious P4P number one.

Interestingly, despite Moicano being a lower-ranked and late-notice replacement opponent for Makhachev after the withdrawal of Arman Tsarukyan, White finally acknowledged Makhachev as the P4P best while interacting with the media in Los Angeles.

During an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, though, Smith dismissed that take owing to one discrepancy when it comes to Jones and Makhachev’s record — one “legitimate” defeat.

“I still think it’s Jon Jones,” Smith said. “He’s gone through three different generations of fighters and has continued to win. And again, Islam has taken a legitimate loss and Jon Jones hasn’t.

“I think you take them all and put them in a room, Jon Jones walks out,” Smith concluded.

Makhachev’s sole career loss came a decade ago at UFC 192, where he was knocked out cold by Adriano Martins.

On paper, Jones boasts the same number of setbacks. But the importance of that has long been dismissed in MMA circles due to it coming via disqualification for a now-legal 12-6 elbow against Matt Hamill in 2009.