Former ONE and Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren has joined on the MMA GOAT debate that has been going on for the last days.
Conor McGregor started all the fuzz by sharing his Top 4 and putting himself on the number 2 spot.
According to the Irish superstar, Anderson Silva is number one, for now, GSP was third and Jon Jones was put at fourth.
GSP is in at 3. Much less array of finishes but champion status in 2. He is far behind though. Reasons = Left 170 after much damage taken+questionable decision. Never re-engaged 170lb successors. Bottled Anderson fight. Only moved when one eyed fighter presented. Played safe.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 23, 2020
Jon is 4. Maybe tied 3. More array of finishes than 3 and still active, but champion status in just 1. Reasons = Multiple lacklustre decision performances + questionable decision win. Attempting to safe play HW entry/avoiding its champion.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 23, 2020
Of course, McGregor’s list caused a lot of stir on social media, and Askren has decided to give his all-time best, not ranking them in a particular order.
7 People in discussion for MMA GOAT. Some have much better cases than others, but all have cases. Fedor and BJ would have had cases had they retired earlier.
GSP
Anderson
DJ
Khabib
Jon Jones
DC
Henry— Hyzerbomb Ben (@Benaskren) May 25, 2020
Clearly, Askren doesn’t believe Conor should be put in the conversation for the greatest of all time, as he has added UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and former two-division champions Henry Cejudo and Daniel Cormier. Former UFC flyweight and current ONE flyweight contender Demetrious Johnson also receives consideration from Askren for being one of the best to ever do it.