Islam Makhachev has repeatedly hinted at moving up to the welterweight division. He simply wants to do what his mentor couldn’t. If you guessed it, congratulations! He indeed wants to become a double champ. The Dagestani fighter also named a couple of fighters in the 170-pound category. However, two insiders in the MMA world have speculated otherwise, linking up Makhachev against Conor McGregor instead.
Not too long ago, Makhachev revealed that he would have no one else to fight in the lightweight division anymore, after his bout against Dustin Poirier, even though there were fighters like Justin Gaethje still waiting for a chance to fight him. Makhachev then declared that he wanted to fight Leon Edwards. But would he get to fight Edwards? Let’s see what the ‘Weighing In’ hosts had to say.
Islam Makhachev might fight Conor McGregor after moving to the welterweight division
Josh Thompson and Big John McCarthy recently went on the ‘Weighing In’ podcast set and discussed the future of ‘The Notorious’. As the conversation proceeded, Thompson wondered who would the ‘Mystic Mac’ fight after fighting Michael Chandler at UFC 303. But soon, the duo stumbled upon Makhachev’s name.
Thompson pointed out that Islam Makhachev wanted to move up in the weight class. The LW champ previously declared that he wanted to fight Edwards. But Thomson had his doubts. He wondered:
“Does Islam go up there and fight him [Conor McGregor] instead of fighting, instead of fighting Leon?”
McCarthy seemed to agree. However, he also stumbled upon the rumors of Makhachev fighting Belal Muhammad. He said:
“Yes. I could see that. I could see Islam fighting Conor at 170, you know. But I could also see Islam fighting either Belal… No, nevermind. I can see him fighting Leon, but never Belal.”
To add to the spice, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team has also confirmed that Islam Makhachev would fight McGregor. Even the lightweight champ has himself made his wish to fight his mentor’s former opponent. The only question is, when would they fight.