When Joe Rogan got brutally honest about Islam Makhachev potentially being "most complete fighter" over Max Holloway or Ilia Topuria

Joe Rogan once shared his candid take on Islam Makhachev, suggesting he could be the most well-rounded fighter in the UFC. The reigning UFC lightweight champion has emerged as one of the most dominant fighters in the division, going undefeated since October 2015 and amassing an incredible 14-fight win streak.

Makhachev's UFC track record features dominant finishes against top-tier opponents and former champions, including Alexander Volkanovski (twice), Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, Dan Hooker, and others.

During an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience in August 2024, the famed podcaster praised Makhachev’s all-around skill set in a conversation with guest Ari Matti. Rogan pointed out that while many elite fighters excel in a specific area, the Dagestani champion stands out as a true jack of all trades:

"When you knock out Volkanovski like that and then choke out Dustin Poirier like that, the guy's got it all. He can head-kick you, he can strike with you and knock you out legitimately, and he can still strangle you and smother you. It's the perfect combination."

Rogan further asserted that Makhachev stands at the top of the list of the most skilled fighters, surpassing even formidable names like Max Holloway and Ilia Topuria:

"If you really think about it, like, who's the most complete fighter, you’d say like Max Holloway [or] Ilia Topuria, but Islam Makhachev, you’ve got to put at the top of the heap as the most complete."

Check out Joe Rogan's comments below (1:27:45):

Makhachev is set to defend his 155-pound title for the fourth time in a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan. The highly anticipated clash will headline UFC 311 this Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

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When Joe Rogan praised Islam Makhachev's knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294

Islam Makhachev's first-round knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski in their lightweight title rematch at UFC 294 in October 2023 wowed Joe Rogan.

During the JRE Fight Companion episode for UFC 294, Rogan lavished praise on Makhachev’s performance, noting that the Dagestani fighter has significantly enhanced his skills over the past few years:

"Wow! What a shocker. Who would have seen that coming? It was amazing. Shin to the dome, opened up a cut – it was perfect. Islam, man. He showed a bunch of new sh*t... I’m just so impressed that he won that way. He showed so much improvement."

Check out Joe Rogan's comments below: