Tyron Woodley isn’t ready to separate Islam Makhachev’s name from his mentor’s.
Makhachev’s dominant win over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 to claim a second belt has many putting him in the greatest of all time conversation. However, former UFC welterweight champion Woodley still sees Makhachev’s mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s name associated with him.
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“He’s still in the shadow of Khabib,” Woodley said in an interview with NewBettingSites. “When I hear Islam, I can’t think of Islam by himself. When I hear the word Islam, I think of Khabib. First thing you say is Khabib’s prodigy. That’s all I’m thinking of – even now.
“He didn’t beat me for a welterweight championship. He didn’t beat Georges St. Pierre. No disrespect to the guy, but he’s still fairly unknown internationally as a fighter. It was (Della Maddalena’s) first ever title defense and it was a style made in heaven for Islam. I feel like he’s still in the shadows of Khabib.”
Unlike Nurmagomedov, Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) has won UFC titles in two divisions. He also broke Nurmagomedov’s record of most title defenses in UFC lightweight history when he notched his fourth one at UFC 311 in January.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ex-UFC champ thinks Islam Makhachev ‘still in the shadow’ of Khabib
