Makhachev Vs. McGregor? ‘People Have To Be Stupid To Say No’

Islam Makhachev has no issues stepping into the Octagon with Conor McGregor.

Well, it sounds like Makhachev’s best buddy, former two-division Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion, Daniel Cormier, might finally be getting through to the Lightweight kingpin. “D.C.” has been stating in recent months that Makhachev needs to beat big stars to become a big star, and his next match up against Dustin Poirier can help contribute to that at UFC 302 next month (Sat., June 1, 2024).

What comes after Poirier? Arman Tsarukyan is the obvious choice as the No. 1 contender at 155 pounds. However, at the end of the same month that Makhachev next competes, “The Notorious” McGregor returns from his lengthy layoff when he’ll try to get back in the win column against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29, 2024. Should McGregor ever get offered to Makhachev, he wouldn’t decline it no matter how meritocratically illogical it may be.

“People have to be stupid to say no,” Makhachev said on Pound 4 Pound (h/t MMA Junkie). “Of course, I will fight with him.

“This guy not same,” he continued. “I don’t want to, like, make him look bad, but everybody know this guy not same. Before, yeah, for sure. When he was fighting with Khabib [Nurmagomedov], he was in a good shape. He [was] a high-level fighter. But right now, too much alcohol, too much whiskey.”

Makhachev, 32, has expressed his interest in fighting at Madison Square Garden in New York City. If that dream became a reality, Makhachev would fight in November when the promotion visits the iconic arena annually. The champion admits an October Abu Dhabi return is also possible for his second fight of 2024. He added one last note, saying he’d fight sooner than that if UFC happened to offer him McGregor in August or September.