"That's not in Khabib's repertoire" - Joe Rogan details what makes Islam Makhachev “one more level above” Khabib Nurmagomedov

Joe Rogan recently broke down why Islam Makhachev presents a different kind of threat compared to Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Rogan shed light on Makhachev’s composure and conditioning, and how he maintains pace without fading. Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, built his reign on pressure and suffocating top control.

While comparing the two athletes, Rogan pointed out that Makhachev is elite on the feet in a way Nurmagomedov never fully needed to be. On episode #172 of The Joe Rogan Experience, he said:

“Well, you know Khabib is without doubt one of the all time greats. One of the greatest to ever do it. But the difference between Khabib and Islam is Islam is elite standup wise. Khabib was very good standup, but Islam knocked out Volkanovski with a head kick. That is not in Khabib’s repertoire.”

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He added:

“Islam is on another level. It is like one more level above. He can knock you out standing. He can knock you out on the ground. He could submit you. He could take you down. He is huge for the weight class, especially 155.”

Check out Joe Rogan's comments below (41:15):

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Islam Makhachev brushes off Ilia Topuria’s threats toward Khabib Nurmagomedov

Islam Makhachev is not losing sleep over Ilia Topuria’s recent comments. With both men holding titles in different divisions, speculation around a superfight has been floating around for a while.

Topuria claimed the lightweight belt after Makhachev moved up to welterweight, yet continued to take verbal shots at the Dagestani and his inner circle. Makhachev sees the hostility as unresolved frustration rather than a personal rivalry.

In an interview with Ushatayka, Makhachev said:

“I don’t know, we can feel it. He has some kind of hatred towards us, but I think we’ll sort it out. Either before the fight, somehow or maybe in the future. Right now, he’s on some kind of break. Maybe in the future we’ll settle it in the cage and see. He’s unhappy about something... We need to figure out what it is.”

Makhachev captured the welterweight title with a dominant win against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322. Topuria, meanwhile, is struggling with personal struggles and will spend some time away from the sport resolving those issues. He won the lightweight title with a knockout win against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317.

Edited by Abhishek Nambiar