UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier believes that the story behind the pension time line of Islam is Makhachacthev.
The legendary career of UFC Superstar Islam Makhachev can end abruptly after a few performances in the Octagon.
The old coach of Makhachev, Javier Mendez of the American Kickboxing Academy, made the headlines this week when he suggested that Makhachev still has three fights in his career. The comments come only a few months before Makhachev is expected to challenge Jack della Maddalena for the UFC Welterweight title, after leaving the lightweight belt on UFC 317.
If Mendez's comments are true, it is a similar ending as Makhakev's career as that of his old friend and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov walked away after beating Justin Gaethje on UFC 254, at the height of his fame and fortune.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Daniel Cormier responds to the pension revelation of the old coach of Islam Makhachev
If Makhachev is serious about retirement after three more performances in the Octagon, this marks another important UFC schedule loss at a time in which the promotion is struggling to produce new superstars. UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, the old teammate of Makhachev, believes that the pension of Makhakevet will harm the sport.
In a recent video that was uploaded to his YouTube channel, Cormier responded to the recent comments from his former coach about the Fighting Future of Makhachev.
“Islam Makhachev may have three fights, including Jack della Maddalena. That is where our energy should be spent as Islam fans,” said Cormier about Makhachev.
“How in the world it feels like another dominant champion may say” it's time “? Why? He is young, he is a world champion, he dominates and gets the chance to become a double champion.
“I think we are now in a time, in fighting, which is very sad for me as a fan,” Cormier continued. “It's scary for me, because I know, knowing these guys, the only saving grace now is that someone else says it for him and he did not say that himself. When Islam comes out and tells us:” I have three fights about “, we have to lock. We saw Khabib doing it and he never looked back.
“That should be worrying for us as fans of mixed martial arts. We have so many more fights that we want to see. We want to see him against Jack della, we want to see him against Usman and Ilia Topuria. It's crazy!”
Makhachev has not fought anymore since the completion of Renato Moicano in the UFC 311 Main Event in January. He was supposed to be confronted against Arman Tsarukyan on UFC 311 before the title -Uitdager himself canceled due to injury.
Fans shouted for Makhachev to face Ilia Topuria in his next lightweight title defense, before the champion chose to leave the belt in favor of a goodweight movement. Topuria will fight against Charles Oliveira, the former rival of Makhachev, against the Main Event of UFC 317 later this month.
Islam Makhachev was able to run away after earning Khabib Nurmagomedov award
If Makhachev earns a second title and Maddalena Dethrones, he will separate from Nurmagomedov and others in the UFC Goat interview. Nurmagomedov entered the UFC Hall of Fame in 2022 in 2022 and has remained uncomfortable in his retirement position.
But fighting Maddalena will perhaps be the most difficult test of Makhakev's career to date, because he wants to fight in a new weight class against a formidable challenge. Maddalena hit Belal Muhammad to earn the UFC -Welterweight title on UFC 315 last month.
But the undefeated teammate of Makhachetev recently told Bloody Elbow that he could return to lightweight at a later time, depending on how his good weight ambitions take place. When Makhachev announced his switch to Welterweight, he hinted that he “stood up a new competition” in the lightweight division.