Renowned mixed martial arts commentator Joe Rogan does not question the fact that UFC lightweight champion Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov is the best in his weight class, but still considers Brazilian Charles Oliveira a fighter who can compete with him.
Also, according to Rogan, it is Charles who should become the rival of American Dustin Poirier in the championship fight if Nurmagomedov still ends his career.
“That would have been an interesting fight to see: [Oliveira] vs Khabib,” Rogan said on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast (h/t Essentially Sports). “The way Oliveira controlled [Tony Ferguson] on the ground—we wanted to know what would happen [if Ferguson fought Nurmagomedov] because Tony is dangerous off his back… I’m more interested to see Oliveira fight for the title than anybody in that division.
“I believe [Nurmagomedov] is the GOAT of that division, but I don’t know what would have happened with Oliveira until you see it,” Rogan continued. “With Oliveira there are moments—like when Cub Swanson knocked him out—there’s moments when you go back in his career and you go, ‘this guy is not the greatest.’ Then you see him in some fights like the Kevin Lee fight, and he’s just so technical, everything’s so good. He’s never out of position. He doesn’t force anything.
“Man, I want to see him fight for the title,” Rogan concluded. “I wanna see him fight Dustin.”