Dominant lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has long spoken about his desire to eventually move up a weight class to fight for a second UFC championship title.
However, with his friend and teammate Belal Muhammad currently reigning as welterweight king, there is speculation that there could be a conflict of interest behind the scenes.
Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images
Khabib Nurmagomedov shares honest opinion on Makhachev vs. Mohammed
Islam Makhachev, Belal Muhammad and Khabib Nurmagomedov share a storied past, with the relationship between the three UFC champions being a key part of their incredible world title success.
However, if Islam Makhachev decided to move up to welterweight to challenge for a second UFC title, how would Khabib Nurmagomedov react to his student fighting Mohammed?
Speaking to Henry Cejudo via the Pound-4-Pound Podcast, the iconic 'Eagle' first said that you should ask both men about the match, before admitting that his 'heart is not right' with the possibility of his two friends who get into a fight in the UFC octagon.
“If they had asked me to fight Belal when I was an active fighter, [my answer would be] no – but for example Belal and Islam, okay, you have to talk to them [about that].
“My heart, my heart is not right [with this]it would be difficult [for me] to prepare Islam to defeat Belal.”
Interestingly, Nurmagomedov was also quoted as saying, “I don't think this will ever happen,” whether that means Makhachev will give up his championship aspirations while Mohammed remains champion is unclear.
Still, the consensus lightweight GOAT would describe a key aspect of the fantasy showdown: “To me it is [always] It will be very difficult to prepare anyone to beat Belal.
“If you want to beat Belal, I think you have to stop him. Without interruption it becomes very difficult. What are you going to do? Okay, let's say if you take him down, it's very difficult to control him for 25 minutes in the first place.
“Secondly, it is very difficult to dominate him in striking play for all 25 minutes because he mixes things up. He doesn't stay with you for the whole 25 minutes, he struggles and hits, struggles and hits; he is good.”
Belal Muhammad is expected to face undefeated Kazakh warrior Shavkat Rakhmonov in early 2025, although Nurmagomedov would like to see 'Remember the Name' in it alongside Cejudo's podcast co-host, Kamaru Usman.
'I think I want to see it [Belal vs Kamaru]I want to see it because Kamaru deserves this – people can say whatever they want, Kamaru deserves this fight.
“Of course there's Shavkat on the line, but I think if Kamaru beats one guy, someone like Jack Della Maddalena, he can fight for the title.”
Islam Makhachev's dream may be to become a two-weight UFC world champion, but that dream is contingent on him defending his lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan in January 2025.
Khabib Nurmagomedov will be in Makhachev's corner for that title rematch, although he will have a busy night with his cousin Umar Nurmagomedov also fighting for bantamweight gold in the co-main event.
UFC 311 will air live from the Intuit Dome in LA on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
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