Khabib Nurmagomedov made the decision to retire while he was still on top of the lightweight division of the UFC.
Since then, the former unbeaten champion has spoken many times about advising hunters to walk away early before they are past their best.
A hunter who is clearly not at that stage is another former 155 pound champion, Islam Makhachev, who recently stated that Khabib will return to UFC 322 in New York.
Makhachev may have recently lost its place at the top of the pound-for-pound Ladder, but his upcoming step to Welterweight was able to reclaim it quickly if he is successful.
His coach, Javier Mendez, previously suggested that Makhachev may have three more fights in him, but now 'De Adelaar' has given his thoughts about this.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Khabib Nurmagomedov believes that Islam Makhachev has left for a maximum of two years
In a recent press conference event where he spoke on stage, Khabib Nurmagomedov again became the subject of hunters retiring when the time is ripe.
Although Islam Makhachev was able to retire today after he had already reached so much in his career, there is still a feeling that he can produce some inheritance that defines that victories.
Fans were disappointed not to look at the light to face Ilia Topuria and he is ready to take on a new challenge in the coming months when moving to Welterweight.
Makhachev does not seem to slow down, but Nurmagomedov believes that fighters should leave before this happens.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
In a video that was originally taken from Ushatayka, 'The Eagle' claimed that he believes that Makhachev will continue to fight for a year and a half to two years, which apparently would be in accordance with Javier Mendez's comments about him who competes three more times.
Nurmagomedov specifically drawn attention to the fact that he will be 35 by that time, that is when he believes that hunters have to step.
“Perhaps Islam, my honest opinion, a year and a half, two years because [his] age [in] October will be 34. Nobody will be [the] same. When the time comes, they don't ask what your name is … If you turn 35, you have to stop doing this because [you should] Leave this sport for young boys.
'If you turn 35 and you are not ready, someone will finish you. Why? It is better to end. After 35 you will never be the same again. People can talk what they want, if you are past you prime, you [are] Only fight for money. ”
Khabib believes that Islam Makhachev has left for 1-2 years in the sport 👀😲
During a press conference, Khabib Nurmagomedov spoke about the importance of pension at the right time, ideally around the age of 35, when the prime of a hunter starts to fade. Often push past that point … pic.twitter.com/wcsb4vpqjl
– Red Corner MMA (@redcorner_Mma) 6 August 2025
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Mapping the following three fights from Islam Makhacheve
If Khabib Nurmagomedov is right and the Islam Makhachev has left for two years, it seems realistic that he will fight three more times.
Of course the next one afterwards is his welterweight relocation where he is confronted with Jack della Maddalena, with UFC 322 in Madison Square Garden that makes a lot of sense.
Photo by Paul Kane/Zuffa LLC
The Ilia Topuria matchup is another that probably seems to be happening at a certain stage, although this would of course depend on how both men do in their next trips and whether they have clear challengers instead.
In an ideal scenario to make the fight as large as possible, Topuria would remain the lightweight champion, while Makhachev wins the 170 pound title and defends it before they finally come across.
Makhachev may only have a handful of fighting, but they can eventually be the matchups that elevate him from a great hunter to one of the best to ever do it.