Joe Rogan is curious to see how UFC champion Islam Makhachev handles the next crop of welterweight contenders.
Makhachev (29-1 MMA, 18-1 UFC) notched his first title defense by outlasting Ian Machado Garry (17-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) in Saturday's UFC 330 main event at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Makhachev suffered quite a bit of damage when he was cut and marked up in the fight. Although he failed on numerous takedown attempts, he eventually secured the decision win by controlling Machado Garry on the ground in Round 5. With top contenders Carlos Prates and Michael Morales waiting in the wings, Rogan says Makhachev will be dealing with even more size and power moving forward.
"He did what he had to do and was really tested in ways we haven't
seen him tested before," Rogan said of Makhachev after UFC 330. "It was a difficult fight. Although he won by a good margin, a healthy margin, it was moments where you're used to Islam having a certain amount of control and dominance that he just didn't seem to have over the bigger guys. This is the question as he's moved up to 170. There's some guys like Morales that are absolutely gigantic.
"What happens if he fights those guys? The gap is bigger than it is with Ian Garry. Ian, out of the 10 victories he's had inside the octagon, has only had three stoppages. Morales kills everybody he touches. Carlos Prates is a murderer. He just puts it on you and knocks out guys with one shot. Ian is not that same guy. He's a strategic striker who's very technical, but he doesn't have nuclear power. Carlos Prates has nuclear power, Morales has nuclear power, and they're both massive guys."
Rogan also noticed a big difference in how Makhachev handled lightweights physically while grappling them.
"There is also a significant difference in the amount of taxing that it takes on Islam's body," Rogan added. "The tax that he has to pay to hold these bigger, stronger guys down. Look at what he did to Dustin Poirier, look at what he did to Charles Oliveira. Just crushes them when he gets on top of them. This is the difference between him at 155 and him at 170. I understand what he wants to do, but man, if I was in his corner, I'd be like, 'Maybe we (should go back down).'"
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Joe Rogan isn't sure Islam Makhachev can handle welterweights with 'nuclear power'
