Jon Anik is an underrated commentator, and does not lack for strength of conviction. During the UFC 254 ESPN+ post-fight show, Anik, Megan Olivi, Daniel Cormier, and Michael Chiesa discussed where the just-retired Khabib Nurmagomedov fits in the GOAT discussion. Olivi declined to put her top 5 in order, which doesn’t entirely make sense, as the idea is to identify The Greatest, not The Greatestesses.
Megan Olivi:
1. Georges St-Pierre
1. Jon Jones
1. Demetrious Johnson
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov
1. Amanda Nunes
Daniel Cormier:
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov
2. Georges St-Pierre
3. Demetrious Johnson
4. Daniel Cormier and Henry Cejudo
5. Amanda Nunes
Michael Chiesa wanted to include Fedor, but noted that the discussion was on UFC GOATS, so his resulting list was:
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov
2. Demetrious Johnson
3. Georges St-Pierre
4. Daniel Cormier
5. Amanda Nunes
Jon Anik:
1. Jon Jones
2. Khabib Nurmagomedov
3. Georges St-Pierre
4. Anderson Silva
5. Amanda Nunes
Cormier and Chiesa’s lists are clearly influenced by failed PED tests. Jones never actually lost a fight, and defeated Cormier twice, so there is no other rational reason to leave him off the list. And Anderson Silva is Anderson Silva.
Anik’s list not only put Jones at #1, but left Cormier off entirely, which earned a reasonably good-natured response from DC.
Boy, you love guys that have bad tests [for PEDs], said Cormier to Anik. I don’t know what’s gonna come out on Jon Anik later. I mean, he’s got Anderson Silva and Jon Jones on this list!
Anik did not back down.
So I did give some love to Anderson Silva, because I did,” responded Anik. “Georges St-Pierre is gonna be the guy who is on all of these lists. I think Khabib really could have supplanted Jon Jones for me, but I’m just telling you, the most skilled, best fighter that I’ve ever seen in UFC history is Jon Jones. And that’s my list and I’m sticking to it.
What do you think UG? What’s your GOAT list, 1-5?
And if you can’t decide, an easier exercise is by division:
Heavyweight
Light Heavyweight
Middleweight
Welterweight
Lightweight
Featherweight
Bantamweight
Flyweight
Women’s: Amanda Nunes, duh
