UFC commentator Joe Rogan had a few thoughts on Islam Makhachev’s welterweight future following his big win at UFC 330.
In the main event of UFC 330, Islam Makhachev was able to grind out a nice win over Ian Machado Garry. It ensured that he retained the UFC welterweight championship, and it also saw him break Anderson Silva’s record for consecutive wins in the promotion, with Islam’s total now standing at 17.
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Makhachev moving up to welterweight was always going to create a lot of questions for him to answer, but so far, so good, even if he’s taking on guys who are naturally a lot bigger.
After the fight, though, Joe Rogan had some interesting thoughts on Makhachev’s future in the division.
Rogan’s view on Makhachev’s welterweight future
“He did what he had to do and was really tested in ways we haven’t seen him tested before,” Rogan said of Makhachev after UFC 330. “It was a difficult fight. Although he won by a good margin, a healthy margin, it was moments where you’re used to Islam having a certain amount of control and dominance that he just didn’t seem to have over the bigger guys. This is the question as he’s moved up to 170. There’s some guys like Morales that are absolutely gigantic.
“What happens if he fights those guys? The gap is bigger than it is with Ian Garry. Ian, out of the 10 victories he’s had inside the octagon, has only had three stoppages. Morales kills everybody he touches. Carlos Prates is a murderer. He just puts it on you and knocks out guys with one shot. Ian is not that same guy. He’s a strategic striker who’s very technical, but he doesn’t have nuclear power. Carlos Prates has nuclear power, Morales has nuclear power, and they’re both massive guys.”
“There is also a significant difference in the amount of taxing that it takes on Islam’s body,” Rogan added. “The tax that he has to pay to hold these bigger, stronger guys down. Look at what he did to Dustin Poirier, look at what he did to Charles Oliveira. Just crushes them when he gets on top of them. This is the difference between him at 155 and him at 170. I understand what he wants to do, but man, if I was in his corner, I’d be like, ‘Maybe we (should go back down).’”
Quotes via MMA Junkie
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