Islam Makhachev was recently asked for a fight with Khamzat Chimaev.
The former UFC light weight champion and former pound-for-pound King are weight classes apart from Chimaev, who won the UFC Middleweight title with a Dominance by Dricus du Plessis on UFC 319.
Islam Makhachev will probably be a challenge this year for the Welterweight title in his next fight against champion Jack della Maddalena, although a date still has to be determined.
Khamzat Chimaev has had several fights in Welterweight in the past, without excluding a return to the weight class for a second belt. The middleweight champion ran the heads when he said that the fastest way to #1 pound-for-pound status was by beating Makhachev.
Makhachev spoke Chimaev's comments about a potential fight and his last performance this week.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Islam Makhachev does not want conflict with the people of him and Khamzat Chimaev, but says 'we will see'
Makhachev played the cool when a reporter asked him for a possible fight with Chimaev in Welterweight.
“I answer this question here. I don't want to open the door for a kind of conflict between our people,” Makhachev said during a press conference.
“Well, we'll see,” Makhachev said about the potential fighting against Chimaev.
“I have a heavy fight for the bow …”
Just like Chimaev, Jack della Maddalena has never been beaten in the UFC. The Weltergeweight champion runs on an 18-field win racing and defeated Belal Muhammad by decision to win the title at the UFC 315 Main Event in May.
A fight between Chimaev and Makhachev would just be huge. Both UFC stars have more than 10 million followers on Instagram and have a combined 30-Fight Win Streak.
Islam Makhachev on a potential fight against Khamzat Chimaev:
“I will answer this here. I don't want to open the door for a kind of conflict between our people. Well, we will see. I have a tough fight for me.” 👀 pic.twitter.com/u72wmikt64
– Happy Punch (@Happypunch) August 22, 2025
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Islam Makhachev about what surprised him about the title profit of Khamzat Chimaev
Makhachev also gave his opinion about Chimaev's title -winning performance on UFC 319.
Chimaev broke several records in his five -round fight against Du Plessis and set the champion for almost 22 minutes of control time, with 12 successful Takedowns and 529 total strikes.
“I was impressed by his domination,” Makhachev said about Chimaev's title win.
“I think he was retaining his energy. He never forced anything. He didn't even put his strikes. His goal was just to become UFC champion.
'If he wanted to, he could have forced [the finish]. He could have done more damage and end the fight.
“But I was surprised that he took him down so easily and could control him for so long,” Makhachev added.