UFC legend BJ Penn shared his take on MMA’s lightweight GOAT, saying that he believes Khabib Nurmagomedov walked away too early.
Many fans would consider Nurmagomedov the No. 1 lightweight of all time after going 29-0 in his MMA career, including a perfect 13-0 record in the UFC alone. However, some critics of Nurmagomedov have pointed out the fact he only had three title defenses as reasons as to why he might not be the run-away GOAT, with others such as Penn in the conversation.
Taking to his social media, Penn shared a message explaining why he believes Nurmagomedov isn’t the sure-fire MMA GOAT at 155lbs. As far as Penn goes, this era of fighters in different in the sense fewer are willing to take the risks that he did in the UFC.
BJ Penn: “I enjoy watching Kabib fight, I can not see Khabib saying he is #1 of lightweight of all time because that does not seem like his style. I will give my opinion on what I thought of Kabibs career. Me kabib and Benson all had 3 title defenses. Me and Kabib had 3 finishes in the 3 title defenses. I did finish Joe Stevenson to win the Ufc lightweight belt and Kabib won unanimous decision over Iaquinta to win the lightweight belt. That’s 4 finishes me and 3 finishes him in title fights. these are just numbers not important to fighting. I do feel that it is the champions duty to the sport and fellow fighters to make sure the next world champion is the greatest world champion to step in the ring. I do believe Kabib walked away too early in that respect. There are fighters and sportsmen… All I ever wanted to do was fight, everyone,” BJ Penn wrote “…i was 25 and in my fighting prime when I went up to 170 pounds and won the belt from Matt Hughes. I can not blame Khabib for not going up and fighting Usman for the belt and then sparking a greater conversation of who was the best of the two fighters who won the 170 and 155 belts? The fighters today get fame and don’t want to lose. I will fight anytime until the day I die… I went to Japan and Hawaii and fought in K-1 and Rumble on the rock at 170, 185, and heavyweight. After years of fighting top fighters and champions I went back to the UFC and took the lightweight belt and the rest is MMA history. I don’t know who is the GOAT lightweight…I was just here to fight.”