Dustin Poirier has been asked this question more than once, and his answer was always firm and consistent. After sharing the Octagon with both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, he still leans toward Khabib as the best lightweight ever.
Poirier spent most of his career in the 155-pound title picture. He was close to winning undisputed gold multiple times, but both Khabib and Makhachev were a hindrance in his very own legacy. Now retired and working as a broadcaster, he recently revisited the topic.
Full interview here
Sorting Through Legends Gets Complicated
Makhachev’s rise has definitely made the conversation closer. His recent dominance and move up in weight have added more arguments in his favor. Still, Poirier keeps coming back to Khabib’s unbeaten record and how controlled his reign was at the top.
Once the top names were set, things got harder for Poirier. The lightweight division has too many eras, too many greats, and no easy answers.
When asked to name his top five lightweights, he answered that the number one spot belongs to Khabib Nurmagomedov. Makhachev was then followed right behind him. He placed BJ Penn in the third spot. After that, things got tricky for the former interim champ.
“Ilia? We can put him in there?” he said.
Then his mind went further back into the history of the division.
“I was thinking in my mind way back, like Jens Pulver, but Frankie [Edgar] for sure, I don’t know how that slipped my mind.”
Interestingly, Conor McGregor was not even in his top five! He did not even mention him.