Khabib Nurmagomedov: UFC 267's Islam Makhachev is 'top-10 in pound-for-pound right now'
Khabib Nurmagomedov thinks Islam Makhachev will put on an eye-opening performance against Dan Hooker at UFC 267.
Nurmagomedov, the former longtime UFC lightweight champion, will be in the corner of his good friend and teammate Makhachev (20-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) on Saturday, when he meets Dan Hooker (21-10 MMA, 11-6 UFC) in a key 155-pound bout at Etihad Arena on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi.
It’s a big fight for Makhachev, who has won his past eight bouts and is rapidly climbing the divisional rankings. If he’s able to put on another dominant performance that ends in a stoppage, Nurmagomedov said his pupil needs to push for a title shot.
“My opinion, this fight have to be for him – not for his opponent – for him have to be contender fight,” Nurmagomedov said on Tuesday’s episode of “DC & RC” on ESPN. “Because after this fight he going to become nine win-streak in UFC. Who have this like this? Only champion. Only Charles Oliveira have better win streak than Islam. If Islam going to finish this guy very easily at the beginning of fight, Islam have to fight for the title. This my opinion.”
After Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) retired from MMA competition with an undefeated record in October 2020, the lightweight division has been reestablishing itself with a new hierarchy. Oliveira claimed the interim belt with a win over Michael Chandler at UFC 262 in May, and now the Brazilian is set to put the strap up against Dustin Poirier in the UFC 269 headliner on Dec. 11.
There’s no clear-cut No. 1 contender after that title fight, but the bout between Chandler and Justin Gaethje at UFC 268 on Nov. 6 will surely come into play. Makhachev vs. Hooker is a factor, too, and Nurmagomedov sees a realistic path to getting the opportunity.
Nurmagomedov is confident that’s what will happen. He couldn’t speak more highly of Makhachev, 30, going into the upcoming fight, ranking him among the 10 best active fighters on the planet. Now he just needs to step up to the plate.
“Islam is the real deal,” Nurmagomedov said. “He’s one of the best in the world. I believe he’s top-10 in pound-for-pound right now. But Islam quiet. He don’t like to talk too much. But me and (Daniel Cormier), we always try to push him. And after this fight we have to call out champion. … Early next year he have to fight for the title against the winner of Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira.”