Islam Makhachev deserves appreciation from UFC fans as Jon Jones MMA GOAT debate heats up

Islam Makhachev vs. Jon Jones is a fight that's unlikely to ever materialize, given the significant difference in their respective weights, any potential catchweight bouts and freakshow MMA matchups notwithstanding! 

Nevertheless, the Makhachev vs. Jones MMA GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate has lately ascended to another crescendo. 

Islam Makhachev has gone underappreciated yet again despite dominating UFC welterweight elites

Islam Makhachev is currently considered to be the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the consensus world's premier MMA organization, the UFC. However, when speaking about his place among the all-time greats in the sport of mixed martial arts, a large section of UFC fans often tend to relegate him to a lower position on the list. 

Suffice to say -- ex-UFC lightweight kingpin and reigning UFC welterweight champ Islam Makhachev is one of the most underrated, underappreciated MMA greats. 

Let's set aside all the debates and discussions and make the acquaintance of some cold, hard facts, shall we? Makhachev is fresh off two dominant wins, namely his UFC welterweight title-winning performance against Jack Della Maddalena last November, and his maiden welterweight title defense wherein he beat Ian Machado Garry on August 15. 

Now, some of his detractors do assert that his unanimous decision win over "JDM" was as dominant as they come, but the victory over Garry -- again, a unanimous decision verdict -- did show moments of his potential vulnerability at 170 pounds. 

Yes, Islam Makhachev competed in the lightweight (155-pound) division for the better part of his career, and his fight against Della Maddalena was actually his welterweight divisional debut. The aforementioned vulnerability, often highlighted by many fans, particularly against the significantly taller Garry, was that Makhachev might be a tad undersized against most welterweights. 

Well, it's this very vulnerability that makes the Dagestani combatant's welterweight journey thus far all the more impressive. Skills trump size in his case! 

But alas, he appears to be a victim of his own dominance that we've gotten accustomed to seeing over the years. Even the mere sign of possible resistance, such as some moments of craftiness Garry displayed, is amplified in fan critique of the welterweight ruler and deemed a chink in his armor. 

Islam Makhachev vs. Jon Jones -- PEDs, subjectivity, and the GOAT conundrum

Islam Makhachev reportedly tested positive for meldonium, a metabolic modulator added to the list of banned PEDs (Performance Enhancing Drugs) by the UFC's then-drug testing partner, USADA, in January of 2016. He tested positive for it in an out-of-competition test that April.

Regardless, USADA absolved him of any wrongdoing, as their investigation confirmed that he'd used the substance during his recovery from a heart procedure before the ban came into effect. 

On the other hand, the MMA career of former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been riddled with failed drug tests, including his testing positive for banned PEDs/steroids. Perhaps one of the best-known instances is his knockout win over Daniel Cormier in their rematch being overturned to an NC (No Contest) due to a drug test failure on his part. 

So, Makhachev's supporters often highlight that Jones's alleged PED use incidents (he's maintained that whatever banned substances were found in his body were ingested unintentionally!) make him deserving of being placed above "Bones" in the MMA GOAT list. 

Another important point is the quality of opposition, as Makhachev's critics claim he hasn't fought the legendary figures across different generations as Jones has. Alternatively, Jones's critics argue that he fought most legends toward the end of their athletic prime and during that of his. 

The very concept of GOAT -- be it in sports, entertainment, or anything else -- is fundamentally flawed. 

It's subjective. So, your MMA GOAT may not be the same as someone else's. Be that as it may, one thing's for sure -- Makhachev has seven UFC title fight wins to his name, while Jones has 16. The 34-year-old Dagestan native is still an active competitor, whereas his 39-year-old American counterpart retired last year and subsequently entered a semi-retired realm where he's still lingering. 

Furthermore, Makhachev broke the great Anderson "The Spider" Silva's longest UFC win streak record (16), as the win over Garry helped Makhachev take his UFC win streak to 17. 

Irrespective of whom fans and experts hail as the MMA GOAT, Islam Makhachev has earned our respect, and he most definitely deserves credit where it's due. Here's hoping we get to see many more of this MMA stalwart's fights, possibly against opponents who appear to be even more physically imposing and with greater KO power than his previous foes.