Islam Makhachev celebrates his first round knockout against Gleison Tibau in their Lightweight fight during UFC 220 at TD Garden on January 20, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
Islam Makhachev faces Drew Dober at UFC 259 and Khabib Nurmagomedov had some words to share before the fight
A lot has been said about Khabib Nurmagomedov and his relationship with Islam Makhachev.
The pair had trained together in the past and continue to do so, even after joining the UFC. This has made a lot of new headlines and Khabib has also stated that Makhachev is a future UFC champion.
The 29-year-old currently holds a record of 18 wins and one loss. Makhachev is also on a six-fight win streak and he is the favourite for his next clash.
Khabib too has returned to the United States after a year or so and should be in the corner of Makhachev on Saturday.
The current UFC Lightweight champion posted a photo of him with Makhachev and had a positive message to share:
“Step by step @islam_makhachev on point #ufc259”
There was a Russian part of the message and this is what is said via Google translate:
“Everything goes on under its own power, a little more and @islam_makhachev will start.”
Javier Mendez, who is the coach of Khabib and Makhachev, as well many other Dagestani stars, has claimed that the 29-year-old is ready to make a big splash in the UFC.
Makhachev had been taking things a little slow in the UFC since Khabib was the champion. However, all that seems to have changed since the Russian retired.
It is to be seen how he does against the unranked Dober but Mendez believed Makhachev’s stock would have risen had be fought someone ranked.
The coach also claimed that Makhachev should be fighting the top five fighters in the division and it will be interesting to see how he does on Sunday.
The 29-year-old is ranked #14 in the division and there are some top fighters waiting to get their hands on Khabib’s belt.
Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira are some of the big names in the Lightweight division.
Makhachev could be fighting one of those names soon but first, he needs to dispatch of the dangerous Dober.
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