Wait you have Conor higher than Khabib?
what?
Uh yes, do you have Weidman higher than Silva? Serra higher than GSP? What about Bigfoot Silva higher than Fedor?
Just because someone beats someone doesn't mean they are the better fighter, or more specifically in this case have the better legacy.
I do think Khabib is the "better fighter" and is just stylistically a dominant matchup vs McGregor who is a euro-striking background guy who recently started going heavy into wrestling/grappling. But at the same time, and while I said specifically
that is was close, I think it's very clear McGregor has the better resume', without question.
1. Does Mighty Mouse get penalized for losing to Cruz? Do we penalize Mighty Mouse for not fighting at 135 or 145? Why not? Because essentially you are doing that to McGregor unfairly.
2. Let's compare resume's:
Khabib: Best win is easily McGregor. His best wins are over McGregor, Porier, Barboza, RDA (prior to his run though and arguably juicing), and his next best is Michael Johnson. He is undefeated but arguably lost to Tibau, at minimum it was very close and feasibly could have been scored for Tibau. Has finished a lot lately but decision'd quite a bit too. Only has fought at LW. Won belt off Al Iaquinta, and has defended twice (against two terrible wrestlers, McGregor and Porier).
vs
McGregor: Best wins: Aldo, Alvarez, Mendes. Then Holloway and Porier as names but were in different points in career, Porier is more legit of the two but also beat Holloway on torn ACL. Diaz and Cerrone also names to be used...better than Michael Johnson name value, or similar value. Won FW belt of FW GOAT, a top 3-5 all-time GOAT at time in Aldo, undefeated at FW. Leaves FW and immediately fights at 170 against a LW/WW tweener, splitting 1-1. Beats LW champion, dominant fashion. Gains two division belts at same time, 1st in UFC history. Fights Floyd Mayweather in boxing, comes off ~2 year layoff and is beaten in semi-dominant fashion / finish by Khabib, 1+ year layoff comes back and destroys Cerrone formerly a top 5 LW (ranked 4 against Gaethje) but is arguably an easy match-up. Still, it was at 170 and Cerrone was a legit WW before.
So yes I think McGregor is higher. If Khabib has a string of title defenses and remains undefeated he can surpass him, if he beats him twice especially. If they make 165 and Khabib competes up there and wins a belt, sure thing. But as of right now McGregor's resume' don't lie. 2 belts, undefeated at FW, dethrones an all-timer, wins LW belt legit, and has wins at 170 over guys who are tweeners sure, but also have legit fought at WW and been top 10-ish probably.
Khabib simply has not faced much great competition yet. Ferguson is a great win for him if he beats him...if the fight actually happens.