Joe Rogan gives honest opinion on Islam Makhachev after latter's clinical D'Arce choke finish on "unheralded challenger" Renato Moicano

Joe Rogan and the entire UFC commentatory team, which included Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik expressed their admiration for Islam Makhachev following his victory at UFC 311. Rogan even asserted that Makhachev has surpassed his mentor and close friend Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired in 2020, undefeated.

Makhachev put his lightweight title on the line for the fourth time against Renato Moicano in the main event of UFC 311 this past weekend. Moicano looked good in the starting moments, however, the Dagestani fighter displayed his wrestling prowess and took the Brazilian to the ground in the opening round and submitted him via a D'Arce choke.

With the win, Makhachev overtook Nurmagomedov, BJ Penn, Benson Henderson, and Frankie Edgar, becoming the only UFC fighter with a record four lightweight title defenses.

Rogan, who was on the commentating duties along with Cormier and Anik, shared his opinion on Makhachev's victory in his post-fight analysis on ESPN MMA's YouTube channel, saying:

''He is just sensational. I mean, the kind of pressure that’s on a champion to come in and take a fight against an unheralded challenger, a guy who’s not supposed to win, a guy who’s very dangerous and has nothing to lose. Moicano was playing with house money. And to perform that way and just immediately sink up a submission on a Brazilian jiujitsu black belt to the ground [is incredible].''

When Anik asked if Makhachev surpassed Nurmagomedov, Rogan responded by praising the reigning champion's striking abilities:

''I think you’re right. When you look at his striking, that’s the thing that separates him. I mean, Khabib was just an unbelievable ground and pound machine and sufficient, but what Islam brings to the table is elite striking as well. I mean, his striking is as good as anybody in the sport.”

Check out Joe Rogan's comments below (0:14):

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Dana White hails Islam Makhachev as the no. 1 P4P after his UFC 311 win

Everyone in the MMA community praised Islam Makhachev for his performance against Renato Moicano at UFC 311, including Dana White.

In the post-fight press conference, White put Makhachev on the top of the P4P rankings and cited him as the greatest lightweight of all time, saying:

Yeah, I’ll give it to him, Are you happy? Is everybody happy now?...He’s the pound-for-pound best in the world, and he’s definitely the best to ever do it in that division...Islam was willing to fight anybody. He’s stayed active, and he went out tonight and performed the way a guy should on a short-notice fight when you’re the best in the world, and you’re the champion.”[H/t: MMA Junkie]

Check out Dana White's comments below: