- Khabib Nurmagomedov is not keen on Islam Makhachev fighting Belal Muhammad for double champ status
- “The Eagle” backs Ilia Topuria to defeat Charles Oliveira
- The former lightweight champ wants three old school lightweights to retire
Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t like the idea of a Belal Muhammad vs. Islam Makhachev super fight. He also thinks Ilia Topuria can beat Charles Oliveira and wants three aging UFC fighters to hand it up already.
Khabib’s heart says no to Belal vs. Islam
Speaking to Henry Cejudo on the Pound-4-Pound podcast. “The Eagle” ultimately said no to Makhachev facing Muhammad for double champ status. For Nurmagomedov, beating an elite fighter like “Remember The Name” is gonna be a tough assignment for Makhachev and him as a trainer.
Moreover, Nurmagomedov thinks Muhammad should face Kamaru Usman instead.
“If they had asked me to fight with Belal, when I was an active fighter, no. But for example, Belal and Islam, you have to talk with them… My heart heart is not okay [with Muhammad vs. Makhachev]. It would be hard to prepare Islam to beat Belal… I don’t think that it’s ever going to happen,” the former lightweight champion said.
“For me, it’s going to be very hard to prepare somebody to beat Belal. If you want to beat Belal, I think you have to stop him. Without a stoppage, it’s going to be very hard. What are you going to do? if you take him down, it’s very hard to control him for 25 minutes, first of all. Second, it’s very hard to dominate him on striking game in all 25 minutes because he mixes it up. He doesn’t stay with you all 25 minutes, he wrestlers and strike, wrestle and strike,” he added.
“I think I want to see Kamaru [vs. Belal]. I want to see it because Kamaru deserves this. People can say whatever they want, Kamaru deserves this fight. Of course, there is Shavkat on the line, but I think if Kamaru beats one guy, somebody like Jack Della Maddalena, he could fight for the title,” he continued.
Ilia could beat Oliveira
Nurmagomedov also shared his take on Topuria moving up to face Makhachev. As per “The Eagle,” it’s not gonna be fair for Islam, considering he already beat a longtime featherweight champion in Alexander Volkanovski twice in a row.
Instead, Nurmagomedov suggests that Topuria take on a top lightweight contender first like Oliveira, whom he believes “El Matador” can beat.
“Without fighting in 155? I don’t agree. Because, Islam already give chance [to Volkanovski before]…But why Islam have to give three time chance for 145 champion?… It’s not fair… But if [Topuria] moves up and he beats somebody like Charles Oliveira, of course. You know what I think, I think he can beat him,” Nurmagomedov said.
Old school fighters should go
As for the veterans in the lightweight division, Nurmagomedov doesn’t think they should still continue fighting and vying for a title shot. Nurmagomedov believes that guys like Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje and Tony Ferguson should go already.
“I think Poirier has to stop fighting. I think he’s finished. Justin Gaethje, Khabib, Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson. This is old school brother. Stop fighting,” Nurmagomedov concluded.
As it stands, Makhachev is already booked for his next title defense against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311. On the other hand, Muhammad is being linked to a title fight with Shavkat Rakhmonov. Topuria, meanwhile, has yet to be slated for his next title defense.
Watch Khabib’s full interview below:
