Islam Makhachev gets brutally honest about another Khabib Nurmagomedov-Conor McGregor rivalry


Islam Makhachev recently shared his thoughts on the Khabib Nurmagomedov-Conor McGregor rivalry when Ilia Topuria was brought up.

Topuria is the current UFC light title, a belt that Makhachev abandoned as he chases welterweight gold.

There have been some suggestions that the biggest fight the UFC could make right now is Makhachev vs. Topuria, but the pair seem set to fight in different divisions for now.

Makhachev was speaking TV match and was asked how Topuria had been made. He was also asked about the escalating Khabib-McGregor rivalry that culminated in McGregor's Russian defeat at UFC 229.

Get the latest on One Championship Classifications on Sportskeeda and more

Makhachev claimed that Topuria is one of the biggest names in the media, but confirmed that there was no chance of another Khabib-McGregor rivalry happening again.

“I don't think it's even close. But if you compare interests, he's one of the biggest. If you were to pick someone right now, he'd be one of the biggest. And Khabib vs. Conor, I don't think it's going to happen again.”

Check out Makhachev's comments below:

The Khabib-McGregor rivalry culminating in the battle at UFC 229 but the Irishman attacked a bus carrying the Russian and several others before the fight.

There was also a melee in the Octagon after Khabib tackled McGregor, which led to suspensions and fines for both sides. Khabib and McGregor remain two of the biggest names in UFC history and no rivalry has come close to the bitterness the pair had.


Islam Makhachev is not looking to fight Ilia Topuria at lightweight

As Makhachev prepares for his UFC 322 bout against Jack Della Maddalena and hopes to become a two-division champion, he hasn't completely closed the door on facing Topuria.

the russian in the same interviewhe was interested in fighting Topuria and believed it was a fight the fans wanted to see.

However, Makhachev was not interested in taking on Topuria in the lightweight division. The former lightweight king was happy to stay at 170 pounds and enjoying his preparations:

“(I'll do it for the fans) How can it be interesting for me? What will I gain by going down to 155 (pounds) and beating Topuria? Win the belt back? I already have it. The fans are mostly interested in that. I'm not interested in going down to 155 (pounds) and torturing myself again, fighting again, torturing myself again at 17. enjoying the camp and fighting.”

Topuria could also be in action soon, but reports suggest it would be in the first Paramount card. The current lightweight champion might be defending his belt, but according to Makhachev's comments, the Russian would not be the one to fight 'El Matador'.