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<\/p>\nKhabib Nurmagomedov\u2019s place amongst the GOAT\u2019s of the lightweight division is often talked about by fans and fighters in the MMA community. By many, he is seen as the lightweight GOAT due to his unblemished 29-0 record. However, some have brought into question the quality of his early wins in the UFC.<\/p>\n
Former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis was one such former UFC fighter who called into question Nurmagomedov\u2019s GOAT status. According to \u2018Showtime\u2019, Nurmagomedov won the belt against mid-ranked lightweight Al Iaquinta and this victory seriously hampers his claim as an all-time GOAT.<\/p>\n
Anthony Pettis went on to explain how Iaquinta was nowhere near the top 5 of the UFC\u2019s rankings and wasn\u2019t in the running for title contention. Instead, Pettis looks at B.J. Penn as the lightweight GOAT for his near indomitable run during his UFC career.<\/p>\n
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\u201cYou know, I think \u2013 I moved down to \u201845, I fought at \u201870 \u2013 I fought all over the place,\u201d Pettis said to LowKick MMA. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to say Khabib (Nurmagomedov) because he didn\u2019t fight everybody. He won the world title fighting Al Iaquinta.”<\/em><\/p>\n Read More: Sean O\u2019Malley Flexes His Star Power Following UFC 280 Fight Announcement; Demands Aljamain Sterling Give Him 50% Pay-Per-View Points for Driving Engagement<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAl Iaquinta wasn\u2019t even ranked at the time, so, you know,\u201d Pettis continued. \u201cAnd then he fought some good guys after that and then he retired, so it\u2019s hard to say he\u2019s the GOAT. He\u2019s definitely one of the best. But like, guys like B.J. Penn, you know \u2013 like that\u2019s a guy for me that, you know, if he wouldn\u2019t have came back and lost a couple of fights, we all would be talking about B.J. as the GOAT, you know, one of the first.\u201d<\/em> [h\/t bjpenn.com<\/a>]<\/p>\n