THE HIDDEN REASON JOE ROGAN THINKS ISLAM MAKHACHEV IS NOW THE MMA GOAT
Joe Rogan claims Islam Makhachev has surpassed Khabib Nurmagomedov. Explore why the UFC champ's striking is on another level.
Joe Rogan has nothing but respect for Khabib Nurmagomedov. Still, he thinks Islam Makhachev might actually be a bit better.
People have tagged Makhachev as Khabib’s successor for years, and honestly, he’s lived up to that. The guy’s 28-1, defended his UFC lightweight belt four times, and just picked up a second title at welterweight after dominating Jack Della Maddalena last November.
Looking at all that, and the way he’s done it, Rogan believes Makhachev has already passed his old friend and mentor.
“Khabib’s one of the all-time greats, no doubt,” Rogan said on his podcast. “One of the best to ever do it. But the thing is, Islam’s stand-up is just on another level. Khabib was solid on his feet, but Islam knocked out Volkanovski with a head kick. Khabib didn’t have that in his toolbox.
“Islam is just a step above. He can finish you standing, on the ground, submit you, and take you down—he’s massive for 155, too. When you’re fighting him, you’re always worried about the grappling, even when you’re striking. He’s just got so many ways to beat you.”
Makhachev hasn’t lost since October 2015, when Adriano Martins knocked him out. Sixteen wins later, he’s tied with Anderson Silva for the longest win streak in UFC history. Nobody knows for sure what he’s doing next, but lately he’s been calling for his first welterweight title defence to be against Kamaru Usman.
Khabib retired on top in 2020, which basically gave Makhachev a chance to step right in and carry the torch. Rogan thinks Makhachev shows just how much MMA has evolved. Just like Khabib inspired him, Rogan expects Makhachev to be the guy the next generation looks up to.
“There are so many fighters to learn from now. They’ve set the bar so high. It’s wild to compare those old-school fights—like Keith Hackney versus Emmanuel Yarbrough back in ''' ''' 93—to someone like Jon Jones in 2025,” Rogan said.
“Now you get guys like Petr Yan, Ilia Topuria, and Islam Makhachev. You get to see the absolute best. And all these young fighters coming up, they’re watching, learning, and adding all these tools. Even the guys fighting on Dana White’s Contender Series—some of them already look like world champs, and they’re not even in the UFC yet.”
KENDRICK BOURNE REVEALS THE STRICT DISCIPLINE THAT SPARKED THE PATRIOTS' TURNAROUND
Kendrick Bourne speaks out! Discover why he thinks Mike Vrabel is the right fit and why he’s eyeing a 2026 return to the 49ers.
Kendrick Bourne’s path through the NFL has zigzagged all over – some highs, plenty of lows, and now, another fresh start. He took a shot with the Patriots in 2025 after building his reputation with the 49ers. But honestly, that New England chapter ended before it even got going. Bourne didn’t just slip out the back door. He left with a lot to say about what he saw brewing in New England as Mike Vrabel took charge.
Once Vrabel arrived, you didn’t need to listen for rumours about a culture shift; it was obvious. Bourne noticed right away. He’s already got his eyes set on home, back with the 49ers, but even from a distance, he could see the Patriots were heading somewhere new long before their record showed it.
Talking about his exit from New England, Bourne didn’t sugarcoat anything. Losing the job itself wasn’t the hardest part. What stung was watching Vrabel put his stamp on the team, laying down the kind of structure and discipline Bourne knew would eventually pay off. He was blunt; things just felt different under Vrabel compared to before.
He put it like this: “After going through OTAs and camp with Vrabes, you just knew. Nothing against Mayo, but he just wasn’t ready. With Vrabes, the structure was totally different in how we studied, how we met, and just the whole vibe. Honestly, I was sad about it.”
This wasn’t just a guy being bitter. Bourne respected what was happening in New England and genuinely wished he could have been part of it, especially with a Super Bowl push on the horizon. He even admitted he’d wanted to be in that locker room when the Patriots finally made it back to the big stage.
Now he’s back with the 49ers, hoping to stick around. At 30, Bourne wants a new contract in San Francisco. He had a solid 2025, racked up 551 yards, picked up a contract bonus, and gave the offence a spark. The 49ers needed reliable hands, and Bourne delivered. He’s clear: he wants to stay, but only if the deal makes sense for him.
So now, the offseason gets interesting. Bourne knows where he fits best, but he’s still keeping an eye on what’s building in New England. That mix of looking back and chasing what’s next makes this part of his career one to pay attention to.
MRI SCARE: STEVE KERR ADMITS STEPH CURRY’S "NEBULOUS" KNEE MAY REQUIRE SECOND IMAGING
Warriors crisis! Discover why Steph Curry may need another MRI and how Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear shifts GSW to the play-in.
The Warriors have been scrambling since Jimmy Butler went down with that ACL tear. He’s done for the year, and now Stephen Curry has to carry the offence on his own.
Right after the All-Star break, the Warriors are sitting in eighth place out West. That’s already shaky, and now Curry’s dealing with a knee injury too. The team calls it runner's knee; basically, he just needs time to heal. But then Steve Kerr gave an update that didn’t exactly inspire confidence.
Turns out, Curry might need another MRI. He tried to push through a full workout, but his knee just wasn’t right. Now, they’re waiting on imaging to figure out how long he’ll actually be out.
Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis still hasn’t suited up for Golden State. If Curry misses significant time, everyone else needs to step up in a big way. The Warriors already have one of the most average offences in the league, 15th at the break. No curry, and things get ugly fast. He’s already missed 16 games this season, and the team went 6-10 without him.
Losing Butler already knocked the Warriors out of serious contention. They’re pretty much locked into the play-in. Unless Curry suddenly goes supernova, it’s hard to see them catching the Thunder or making any real noise out West.
So, what’s next? The front office tried to swing big at the deadline, going after Giannis Antetokounmpo, though who knows if the Bucks ever really considered it. Giannis stayed put, but you can bet the Warriors will chase him again this summer.
If that doesn’t work, they’ll turn to other stars. They know the championship window is closing with Curry still on the roster. He’s still elite, but time’s ticking.
LeBron James even comes up as a possibility. If he declines his player option and hits free agency, maybe he’d team up with Curry for one last run at a ring.
Most likely, though, Golden State will look at trades instead of free agents to try to reload. Curry’s health isn’t what it used to be, and the Warriors know they have to make the most of whatever prime he’s got left.