Islam Makhachev has repeatedly hinted at moving up to the welterweight division. He simply wants to do what his mentor couldn’t. If you guessed it, congratulations! He indeed wants to become a double champ. The Dagestani fighter also named a couple of fighters in the 170-pound category. However, two insiders in the MMA world have speculated otherwise, linking up Makhachev against Conor McGregor instead.

Not too long ago, Makhachev revealed that he would have no one else to fight in the lightweight division anymore, after his bout against Dustin Poirier, even though there were fighters like Justin Gaethje still waiting for a chance to fight him. Makhachev then declared that he wanted to fight Leon Edwards. But would he get to fight Edwards? Let’s see what the ‘Weighing In’ hosts had to say.

Islam Makhachev might fight Conor McGregor after moving to the welterweight division

Josh Thompson and Big John McCarthy recently went on the ‘Weighing In’ podcast set and discussed the future of ‘The Notorious’. As the conversation proceeded, Thompson wondered who would the ‘Mystic Mac’ fight after fighting Michael Chandler at UFC 303. But soon, the duo stumbled upon Makhachev’s name. 

Thompson pointed out that Makhachev wanted to move up in the weight class. The LW champ previously declared that he wanted to fight Edwards. But Thomson had his doubts. He wondered, “Does Islam go up there and fight him [Conor McGregor] instead of fighting, instead of fighting Leon?” 

McCarthy seemed to agree. However, he also stumbled upon the rumors of Makhachev fighting Belal Muhammad. He said, “Yes. I could see that. I could see Islam fighting Conor at 170, you know. But I could also see Islam fighting either Belal… No, nevermind. I can see him fighting Leon, but never Belal.”

To add to the spice, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team has also confirmed that Makhachev would fight McGregor. Even the lightweight champ has himself made his wish to fight his mentor’s former opponent. The only question is, when would they fight.

LW champ wants to fight ‘The Notorious’

In a previous conversation with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo in their talk show, ‘Pound4Pound’, Makhachev expressed his desire to go against Conor McGregor. The dagestani fighter disclosed that he would never deny a fight against McGregor. He said, “Brother, why not? People have to be stupid to say no. Of course, I will fight with him. Brother, when I will fight next? October or November? I can fight August or September with McGregor.”

After that, Makhachev claimed that McGregor was not the same fighter that he once used to be. He believed that the Irish mixed martial artist was in much better shape back when he fought Nurmagomedov. But now, Makhachev said, “He a high-level fighter, but right now, too much alcohol, too much whiskey and it’s not same.”

Furthermore, Javier Mendez, one of the Dagestani team’s closest friends, also confirmed that Makhachev would take up the fight against ‘The Notorious’. Mendez revealed that fighting McGregor would be a massive fight for Makhachev. If the team manages to fix a bout against McGregor, it would indeed generate a boatload of cash for Makhachev. 

What do you think? Do you believe McGregor would fight Makhachev after the events of UFC 303? Let us know in the comments down below.