McGregor ranks himself No. 1 all-time in UFC, places Islam Makhachev above Khabib

Conor McGregor stirred debate on social media by releasing his personal all-time top-10 UFC fighters list, placing himself at the summit ahead of widely celebrated names including Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, and Demetrious Johnson.

McGregor's list drew particular attention for how he positioned Islam Makhachev — ranked seventh overall and above both Daniel Cormier and Khabib Nurmagomedov. McGregor pointed to Makhachev's record and finishes across two divisions as his reasoning. He also offered a notable opinion on Makhachev's future, pushing back against any talk of retirement from those in the champion's camp and insisting the lightweight titleholder still has plenty left to give the sport.

Khabib Nurmagomedov, who McGregor placed behind Makhachev, retired undefeated with a 29-0 record. The Russian finished his career averaging 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes, one of the most dominant grappling rates in UFC history. Jon Jones, slotted below McGregor at the top of the list, carries a 28-1 record and stands six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach. Jones lands 4.38 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, numbers that underpin his reputation as one of the most complete fighters the organization has ever seen.

Why it matters

• McGregor placing himself above Jones, Silva, and Johnson will fuel ongoing GOAT debates across the sport
• Ranking Makhachev ahead of Khabib challenges the widespread view that the retired Russian remains the lightweight standard-bearer
• McGregor's endorsement of Makhachev's longevity adds a notable voice to conversations about the champion's future at 155 pounds
• The list carries no competitive or rankings consequence but reflects how active McGregor remains in shaping public discourse around the sport