Robert Whittaker would pick Islam Makhachev over the consensus greatest welterweight of all time.
Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) claimed the UFC welterweight title by dominating Jack Della Maddalena on the ground. He was able to control Della Maddalena for over 19 minutes of the fight.
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St-Pierre (26-2 MMA, 20-2 UFC), who also won UFC titles in two divisions, is second all-time in most takedowns landed in company history. However, Whittaker thinks Makhachev stylistically could handle him in his prime.
“That’s tricky because GSP has got a good game to fight Makhachev,” Whittaker said on his MMArcade Podcast. “He’s got a really good game. He’s like a springy, karate-esque fighter. He likes punching from outside the distance, loves to scramble, has the cardio to scramble, has really top-tier jiu-jitsu. Honestly, I think Islam would get it done. If the fight becomes a scramble-off and a wrestle-off, Islam’s going come out of it better just because he’s built for it.
“(Khamzat) Chimaev would do the same, whereas GSP utilized the full toolbox of MMA. So he utilized his wrestling and his grappling to eventually stand back up, box your head off because you’re worried about the takedown. Then he’ll take you back down and do the same. Islam, he’ll get you down, and you ain’t getting back up.”
St-Pierre holds the record for most title defenses in UFC welterweight history with nine. He retired on a 13-fight winning streak as UFC middleweight champion.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Robert Whittaker: Islam Makhachev beats prime Georges St-Pierre
