St-Pierre Rated Makhachev Among MMA’s Best
In a June 2024 conversation with coach Firas Zahabi, Georges St-Pierre called Islam Makhachev the best pound-for-pound fighter at that time. His comment praised Makhachev’s ability; it was not a formal designation of an heir to St-Pierre’s legacy. Contemporaneous coverage reported the discussion.
What St-Pierre actually said
When asked about the lightweight champion in 2024, St-Pierre praised Makhachev’s well-rounded skills and called him the best pound-for-pound fighter “right now.” The remark was a point-in-time opinion about the active roster, not a prediction that Makhachev would inherit St-Pierre’s achievements or career legacy. The interview report attributes that view to the Tristar Gym conversation.
Makhachev’s later milestone
Makhachev later moved up to welterweight. On November 15, 2025, he defeated Jack Della Maddalena by unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden to win the welterweight championship, adding a second division title to his record. The official event results list the decision and scores. Afterward, St-Pierre publicly praised Makhachev’s dominant, tactical performance; later reporting covers those comments.
Praise, not succession
St-Pierre’s praise came before Makhachev later won the UFC welterweight title, adding a second-division championship to his résumé.
