UFC 229: Anderson Silva Rates Khabib Nurmagomedov The Best Fighter

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is one fighter that has impressed the legendary Anderson Silva in recent times.

Silva (34-8-1) is regarded as the greatest middleweight champion of all time as he dominated the UFC's 185-pound division from 2006 to 2013, amassing a UFC record of 16 consecutive wins in the process.

However, since his knockout loss to Chris Weidman, along with a couple of failed drug tests, Silva's decline has been obvious and he has not fought since a controversial unanimous decision win over Derek Brunson at UFC 208 in February last year — his first win in his last six fights.

Silva was supposed to face Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Shanghai in November, but he would fail a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) drug test, only to later be exonerated due to contaminated supplements. He will be free to compete again in November this year.

In his time away from the octagon, Silva has been busy with his projects and acting, but Nurmagomedov is one who has caught his attention.

The unbeaten Dagestan native decisively defeated Edson Barboza via unanimous decision at UFC 219 in December before winning the vacant lightweight title against Al Iaquinta via unanimous decision at UFC 223 in April.

Nurmagomedov, who is yet to lose a round, is now set for the biggest payday of his career as he will defend his title against Conor McGregor at UFC 229 on Oct. 6 in Las Vegas in what is expected to be the most lucrative fight in the promotion's history.

But while McGregor also impresses him, "The Spider" believes Nurmagomedov is the best fighter at the present moment.

"Khabib [Nurmagomedov] is a great fighter. I’m very impressed," Silva said in a recent Inquisitor interview. "Conor [McGregor] is a great fighter. Having a new generation of fighters, especially in the UFC… this is a huge company that’s worked for a long time to get the great fighters in the sport. I think Khabib is the best, here, in this moment."

As for who Silva could face in his next fight, he is unsure as of now. However, he is still open to the long-proposed super fight between himself and Georges St-Pierre.

St-Pierre vs. Silva was a dream matchup a couple of years ago when both fighters were at the peak of their powers in the welterweight and middleweight divisions respectively. But despite the duo having aged since, Silva believes it's a fight everyone would still want to see.

"Yeah, absolutely," Silva said if St-Pierre is still interested. "Georges is the great name in Canada, I’m the big name in Brazil… I believe everybody in this sport [would] like to see Georges and Anderson Silva in a super fight, you know?"

St-Pierre returned to action in November 2017 for the first time in four years as he defeated Michael Bisping to win the middleweight title at UFC 217. He would vacate his title a month later due to a case of ulcerative colitis, but has not ruled out a return to action.

However, he looks more likely to target the winner of McGregor vs. Nurmagomedov than a fight with Silva as he believes it would do more for his legacy as he strives to be the undisputed greatest fighter of all time.