Russian MMA commentator debates exclusion of Khabib and McGregor from UFC GOAT list

Russian MMA analyst Kalugin published a detailed critique of Vlad Matveev's top-10 UFC GOAT list, expressing surprise at the absence of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. Kalugin argued that criteria like MMA popularization, peak form, fight dominance, commercial impact, and records should be weighted alongside titles and opposition quality. He proposed his own top-10 list placing Jon Jones first, GSP second, Khabib third, and McGregor fourth. The post sparked discussion about whether popularity and cultural impact should factor into GOAT debates as heavily as competitive achievements. Kalugin emphasized that while Matveev's statistical work was thorough, the concept of "greatness" must encompass a fighter's broader influence on the sport.