[The 1,000 Reader]

Sauron was humiliatingly defeated at the Isle of Werewolves, and lost every fight he was in, so no, he is certainly not greater than Morgoth. Morgoth's plan, while crude, did actually work. If it were not for the Host of the Valar, Beleriand would have been his. Sauron, on the other hand, was repeatedly thwarted by the mortal beings (and lesser elves) of Arda. His corruption of Numemor wasn't really a victory, seeing as how it had already become quite corrupt, and it was still a major loss for him in the end. His ultimate defeat was not one on the battlefield, but by Gollum falling to his death by accident. If anything, this seems symbolic of him being undeserving of a grand end.

All in all, Morgoth ruled over balrogs and dragons, was the first to corrupt men, defeated Fingolfin in combat, and was defeated by the host of Valinor. On the matter of looking cool, none of Morgoth's defeats were truly shameful, while we all know of Sauron's defeat at the Isle of Werewolves. In the end, Morgoth was the better Dark Lord, the more persistent enemy (Morgoth's Ring), and would come again for the end of the world. Sauron was like a carbon copy of Morgoth once you delve into the character, with only a few distinctions.