Artur Beterbiev makes shock pick in Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Islam Makhachev debate

Top pound-for-pound boxer Artur Beterbiev has weighed in on the Khabib vs Islam debate while speaking at the IBA Mens Elite World Championships in Dubai.

Both Nurmagomedov and Makhachev are legendary lightweight UFC champions, who fulfilled the former’s father’s prophecy of the mentor becoming champion before retiring and his protege winning the same belt. Due to his monumental star power, the 37-year-old is considered the greatest fighter of all time.

They achieved ‘Father’s plan’ likely a bit earlier than expected due to Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s untimely passing in 2020 and Khabib’s subsequent retirement. And now Makhachev has gone where his best friend never went by moving up in weight and becoming a two-division world champion at UFC 322.

• Who is Khabib Nurmagomedov? Inside the life of the most dominant UFC fighter of all time

Artur Beterbiev picks Islam Makhachev over Khabib Nurmagomedov

While Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev were putting Dagestan on the map as MMA’s most dominant region, Artur Beterbiev has been plowing his furrow at the elite level in boxing. He is considered one of the sport’s best pound-for-pound, only losing out on top spot after a defeat to Dmitry Bivol this year.

The Khasavyurt region, as with most of Dagestan, is better known for its wrestling pedigree than boxing, and as a result Beterbiev has been keeping an eye on the UFC for years. And he has always shown respect to his fellow Dagestani legends.

And asked to pick who was the greatest between the two, he had to weigh up the accomplishments on paper as much as their individual traits. As a result, he went for Makhachev, who despite losing a fight where Nurmagomedov went undefeated, has now won two belts.

“Who is better, Khabib or Islam?” He clarified when asked by Bloody Elbow in Dubai at the IBA Men’s Elite Championships. “If you look at what they have done in the sport… Makhachev has become a two-division champion. I will say Makhachev. But Khabib retired undefeated. He is good too.”

Artur Beterbiev believes Khabib Nurmagomedov street fight would be ’50-50′

It’s generally considered that in a pure street fight with no rules, a great MMA fighter will beat a great boxer. However, with his wrestling background and his legendary training routines, Beterbiev reckons he could be competitive with the UFC’s best of all time.

Asked by a media member at the event in Dubai who would win if they were to meet in the street, Beterbiev replied that “Khabib is younger than me, but I think it’s 50-50.”