Speaking about pound-for-pound greats, the former BMF champion claimed that prime José Aldo would beat Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and Jon Jones if weight classes didn't exist. 🗣️ "The only guy I would send in there who could represent strikers would be Aldo. He would probably beat them all." Masvidal’s reasoning comes down to Aldo’s legendary takedown defense. Throughout his prime, the "King of Rio" shut down elite collegiate and freestyle wrestlers like Chad Mendes and Frankie Edgar with over 90% defensive wrestling efficiency, punishing them with leg kicks and knees.
Jorge Masvidal believes a prime José Aldo would beat three of the most decorated fighters of the modern era if weight classes did not exist. The former BMF champion made the claim while discussing pound-for-pound greats, naming Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev and Jon Jones as the men Aldo would handle.
Masvidal said Aldo is the one fighter he would send in to represent strikers, adding that "he would probably beat them all." His case rests on Aldo's takedown defense. During his prime, the "King of Rio" shut down elite collegiate and freestyle wrestlers such as Chad Mendes and Frankie Edgar, posting defensive wrestling efficiency above 90 percent while punishing opponents with leg kicks and knees.
The fighters named
Nurmagomedov retired unbeaten at 29-0 and is 38 years old. The Russian built his reputation on relentless grappling, averaging 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 0.8 submission attempts. He landed 4.1 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy.
Makhachev, 34, is 29-1 and the reigning welterweight champion. The Dagestani southpaw fights out of Eagles MMA and averages 3.22 takedowns per 15 minutes with 0.9 submission attempts. He lands 2.27 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Jones, 39, holds a 28-1 record and is listed at six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach. He lands 4.38 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy and averages 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The comparison pits a striking-based defensive wrestler against two grapplers and one of the sport's longest strikers, a classic styles debate.
- Both Nurmagomedov and Makhachev built their dominance on takedown volume, which is exactly the area where Masvidal says Aldo excelled.
- Masvidal's argument ignores weight classes entirely, so the claim is hypothetical and rests on style rather than any real matchup.
