TLDR
- Nate Diaz criticized Islam Makhachev’s claim to be the number one pound-for-pound fighter despite winning two UFC titles
- Diaz said Makhachev “hasn’t beaten anybody great” and finds his fights boring to watch
- He named B.J. Penn as the best lightweight ever, citing Penn’s wins over Matt Hughes
- Diaz prefers Ilia Topuria over Makhachev, calling Topuria a “more complete fighter”
- When asked who is pound-for-pound number one, Diaz chose Jon Jones
Nate Diaz has questioned Islam Makhachev’s status as the top pound-for-pound fighter in mixed martial arts. The criticism comes after Makhachev’s win at UFC 322 in New York.
Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena by unanimous decision on November 16. The victory gave him the welterweight title to add to his lightweight championship. He extended his winning streak to 16 fights.
During an appearance on N3on’s Twitch stream, Diaz expressed doubt about Makhachev’s ranking. “He’s been here for like two minutes and he ain’t beaten nobody that’s great,” Diaz said. “They just throw that out like that.”
The American fighter pointed to B.J. Penn as the standard for lightweight greatness. Diaz mentioned Penn’s victories over Matt Hughes and his competitive fight against Georges St-Pierre. He argued that Penn’s resume outweighs Makhachev’s current achievements.
Makhachev holds a professional record of 28 wins and one loss. His most recent fight before UFC 322 was in January 2025 at UFC 311. He submitted Renato Moicano in the first round at that event.
Fighting Style Criticism
Diaz took issue with Makhachev’s wrestling-heavy approach. “I can’t even remember anything but getting bored in all them fools’ last fights,” he said. The comment reflects Diaz’s preference for action-oriented fighting styles.
Makhachev trains under Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired with a 29-0 record. Both fighters use dominant grappling and pressure tactics. These methods produce wins but don’t always excite fans who prefer striking exchanges.
The welterweight champion now competes for pound-for-pound supremacy with other multi-division champions. Ilia Topuria holds titles at two weight classes. Alex Pereira has also won championships in multiple divisions.
Merab Dvalishvili will defend his title for the fourth time at UFC 323 next Saturday. The competition for the top ranking remains tight across the organization.
Topuria Gets Praise
When asked about Topuria, Diaz offered different feedback. “I think he’s a more complete fighter, good fighter though,” Diaz said. Topuria remains undefeated in 17 professional fights.
The Georgian-Spanish fighter has captured titles at 155 and 145 pounds. His victories include wins over Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski, and Max Holloway. Diaz referenced memorable matchups from the past as his standard for excitement.
“You’ve got to just think of things that you have to tune in for,” Diaz explained. He mentioned the B.J. Penn versus Takanori Gomi fight as an example. That level of anticipation guides his assessment of current fighters.
Diaz named Jon Jones as his pick for pound-for-pound number one. Jones has held titles in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. His selection reflects Diaz’s criteria for evaluating the sport’s best fighters.
Makhachev returned to the top spot in the official UFC pound-for-pound rankings after his UFC 322 victory. He also holds four successful lightweight title defenses before moving up to welterweight.
