Since his debut in the octagon, Islam Makhachev has emerged as a dominant force in the UFC’s lightweight division, often compared to his coach and close friend, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Some have even called Makhachev “the next Khabib” or claim he is better than Khabib, sparking debates among fans about whether the reigning lightweight champion is now the toughest in the sport. However, the Dagestani native recently revealed a surprising insight about his toughest battle to date, during a conversation with former fighter and commentator Daniel Cormier on ESPN.

Islam Makhachev shared that his first fight against former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski was one of the hardest fights he’s had, stating, “It was one of the hard fights, of course, but it’s not the toughest fight because the five rounds with Volkanovski, it was crazy. It was hard, right? Heart rate more than 200, you know.” Makhachev and Volkanovski have faced off twice at 150 pounds, but their first fight at UFC 284, where Volkanovski showcased incredible endurance, remains the reigning lightweight champion’s toughest test to date.

Despite losing, many attributed Volkanovski’s performance to stepping in on short notice, a division above in lightweight after Charles Oliveira withdrew due to injury. The Dagestani native himself acknowledged this factor, explaining, “But maybe I was underestimating him because it’s a short-notice fight.”

However, since those losses to Islam Makhachev, Alexander Volkanovski, who had previously been on an undefeated 12-fight winning streak since his debut in 2016, has experienced a drop in confidence. This has affected his performance in the featherweight division, where Volkanovski lost his title to Ilia Topuria.

Now, Islam Makhachev is set to defend his lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan next month. After that, the reigning lightweight champion may move up to welterweight. It’s a move that has not pleased Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Let’s explore the reasons behind Khabib’s opposition to this potential move.

Why Khabib Nurmagomedov opposes Islam Makhachev’s move to welterweight

Notably, Islam Makhachev is close to the heart of Khabib Nurmagomedov. He has known him since he was 11 years old, training under his late father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. The responsibility now lies with Khabib to guide the reigning lightweight champion. However, Khabib’s approach may be in danger, as Nurmagomedov and his entire team, including Makhachev, are closely connected to welterweight champion Belal Muhammad. He is now a part of their tribe. This could cause a rift if the Dagestani native moves to welterweight.

Previously, Belal Muhammad suggested Islam Makhachev could consider the 185-pound division and challenge Dricus Du Plessis, stating, “Honestly, he(Makhachev) could go up to 185 and beat Du Plessis right now.” The reigning lightweight champion, however, dodged the matter, leaving it in the hands of their mutual manager, Ali Abdelaziz, saying, “We will see.”

Recently, Henry Cejudo revived the issue in a podcast with Khabib, leading to Khabib expressing his discomfort with the idea. Khabib stated, “My heart, not OK. It’s going to be hard to prepare Islam to beat Belal. He’s very close to me. For me, it’s going to be hard to prepare somebody to beat Belal.”

What’s your take on Islam Makhachev possibly facing Alexander Volkanovski for a third time? Do you think Volkanovski can finally overcome the reigning lightweight champion, or will Makhachev remain undefeated for the third time? Drop your predictions below.