“Obviously, the most worthy contender is Nassourdine Imavov, that's the fight that needs to happen. He [Chimaev] needs to see if he can get through that test before we can start talking about him being unbeatable”

– via Submission Radio giving a technical breakdown on how to stop the newly crowned middleweight champion, Khamzat Chimaev.

“I think he would do very well at light heavyweight. His wrestling in a division very low on great wrestling, I think he would do very good there as well”

– ia Submission Radio (January 2026), sharing a "brutally honest" take on Khamzat Chimaev's potential in the 205—pound division.

“I don't see anyone beating Ilia Topuria. Not Paddy, not Justin. Arman Tsarukyan is the dark horse... but by the end of 2026, Topuria will still be the champ”

– via his YouTube channel (January 9, 2026), predicting that the "El Matador" era will endure despite a chaotic lightweight landscape and the emergence of an interim champion

“Khamzat could win at any weight. I'd like to see him at light heavyweight”

– via Red Corner MMA (January 2026), sharing his high praise for the newly crowned middleweight champion after their viral wrestling session in Chechnya.

“I think Islam is one of the greatest fighters of all time. I’m not surprised that he’s dominating the competition. He’s a special athlete. Some guys are chosen to do great things, and I think he’s one of those guys”

– via Red Corner MMA (January 8, 2026), offering high praise for the pound—for—pound king following Makhachev’s historic double—champion victory

“Usman is one of the greatest welterweights of all time. I think also for people that are trying to dismiss Kamaru, because people are trying to dismiss Kamaru as a threat – remember how he fought Khamzat. Khamzat has destroyed just about everybody, and if it was a five—round fight, many felt Kamaru Usman had the opportunity to beat him. That was up a weight class”

– via Red Corner MMA, warning fans and analysts not to underestimate Kamaru Usman in a potential superfight against the new double champion, Islam Makhachev

“More skilled, more experienced, I think the better fighter all around is Justin Gaethje, but I've also been on record saying Paddy Pimblett is a lot better than people think he is... When I fought him in April in Miami, I'm not gonna say that I was surprised... but he's better than a lot of people give him credit for.”

– via recent interview with ESPN MMA, breaking down the UFC 324 interim title fight between his two former rivals.

“[Tom Aspinall] just faced guys that couldn't really wrestle... I do believe after watching this fight of Aspinall and Gane that Jon Jones will out wrestle Aspinall for sure, no doubt in my mind”

– via his Love & War podcast doubling down on his belief that Jon Jones remains the stylistic nightmare for the heavyweight champion

“You know, it's one of those matchups where... Only in wrestling could Cormier handle Jones. Jon Jones is good at wrestling, but wrestling is Cormier's element. He's an Olympic—level guy. That's very high level”

– via the Red Corner MMA channel giving his honest preview of the potential Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling match between his AKA teammate and his P4P rival.

“If they stay on the feet, I think Ilia knocks him out... I think it's very, very close, but for Islam to get hold of him, he has to close the distance, which is dangerous fighting Ilia”

– via FlexCidine, providing a high stakes breakdown of a potential superfight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria.

“Makhachev has only one game, he’s going to clinch you and take you down and Topuria is a fighter with a lot of power, not because he knocked me out, that was the hardest punch I ever felt.”

– via FlexCidine, providing a high stakes breakdown of a potential superfight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria.

“I like Petr Yan, he's good to watch, nice striking. Petr Yan's the best, he's like a tough little Russian f**ker”

– via the N3ON podcast, naming the newly crowned bantamweight champion as his favorite fighter to watch in the sport today.

“I think you [Gable Steveson] can do what Mike Tyson did, which is revitalize the heavyweight division. Other than Jon [Jones], who’s of course a superstar, but he’s kind of semi retired, the Tom Aspinall—Ciryl Gane thing was a disaster. I mean, Tom Aspinall still can’t see. He’s got a messed—up right eyeball still... The reality is, he might not ever fight again”

– via The Joe Rogan Experience expressing grave concern over the heavyweight champion's career—threatening eye injury.

“Look, everyone wants a double gold, but I’ve said this before, it’s easier to do it from 185 to 205 and then even up to heavyweight. I would not be surprised, to be honest, if he’s [Chimaev] the first guy to go three champs... At 205, you pull up the rankings, and they’re all strikers. All of those guys he can beat... I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he ends up being a three division champion”

– via the Weighing In podcast discussing the 205 lb potential of current Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev.

“Khabib is, without a doubt, one of the all time greats. But the difference between Khabib and Islam is Islam is elite, standup wise. Khabib has really good standup, but Islam knocked out Volkanovski with a head kick, that's not in Khabib's repertoire. Islam is on another level”

– via The Joe Rogan Experience breaking down why the current P4P king has surpassed his mentor in terms of technical versatility.

“Khabib is, without a doubt, one of the all time greats. But the difference between Khabib and Islam is Islam is elite, standup wise. Khabib has really good standup, but Islam knocked out Volkanovski with a head kick, that's not in Khabib's repertoire. Islam is on another level”

– via The Joe Rogan Experience breaking down why the current P4P king has surpassed his mentor in terms of technical versatility.

“Khabib deserves more credit for what he did for that team and in that area. I don't think people give him enough credit for what he means to that region of fighting. He really has changed the course of an entire country.”

– via the Weighing In podcast, discussing the cultural and athletic legacy of Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“If we’re talking about pure offensive power, maybe Topuria has more. But as a counter puncher, McGregor was better. His timing, the way he waited and set things up. I’m a southpaw myself, and he’s a southpaw too. The way he would catch opponents with the left hand while making them miss. That was on another level”

– via Ushatayka, breaking down the technical differences between Ilia Topuria and Conor McGregor.

“Did you see what Andrei Arlovski got into it with these f*cking influencers? I bet they didn’t know who he is... First of all, gigantic. And he’s one of the baddest motherfckers ever. That guy just recently retired from the UFC... and the guy was still beating people that are elite fighters just a few years ago... You go pick on that guy? Good luck”

– via The Joe Rogan Experience #2429 (released Dec 22, 2025), reacting to the viral backstage brawl between the former UFC champion and YouTuber Jack Doherty’s entourage.

“Shout out to Tony. He’s 2—0 since retiring from the UFC. He had a great career in the UFC now he’s going into YouTuber boxing. Maybe he has found his niche, maybe he found his sport. Obviously not the highest level of opponents but I am sure it’s going to pay well. He’s got a big name. If he is going to keep winning, why not?”

– via Remember the Show, praising Tony Ferguson’s successful transition to boxing