Makhachev has faced criticism from parts of the MMA world for the calibre of opponents he has faced during his title defences.
Although Volkanovski is world class, he moved up from featherweight for both bouts, while Moicano was a last-minute replacement for the injured Arman Tsarukyan and was 10th in the UFC lightweight rankings.
He does hold victories over former champion Oliveira and Poirier, however.
For Nurmagomedov, the combined record of his opponents at the time of fighting them is 81 wins, 13 losses, one draw and one no-contest, while Makhachev’s rivals had 109 wins, 23 losses and two no-contests between them.
Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, has title defences against McGregor, Poirier and Justin Gaethje, but it is the manner in which he won those fights that is impressive.
He largely dominated all three before finishing them, while against Gaethje he pre-planned to win via a triangle choke because he wanted to put the American to sleep rather than make him submit, out of respect.
