Rising UFC star Islam Makhachev is no longer interested in fighting Conor McGregor
- Rising UFC star Islam Makhachev no longer deems Conor McGregor a worthwhile opponent.
- "I just want to fight for the title," he told reporters Wednesday.
- Makhachev fights Dan Hooker on Saturday's main card of the UFC 267 event in Abu Dhabi.
ABU DHABI - UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev is no longer interested in a fight that involves the former two-weight champion Conor McGregor.
Makhachev, who is mentored by Russia compatriot Khabib Nurmagomedov, is one of the MMA's rising stars. The 30-year-old has a sambo style similar to Nurmagomedov, and he is even trained by Khabib's old coach Javier Mendez.
The Dagestan fighter returns to the UFC Octagon at UFC 267 against Dan Hooker, a striker from New Zealand, on the main card of an event at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Because of his abilities and success at 155-pounds, combined with his links to Nurmagomedov - an old rival of McGregor's - a bout involving him and the Irishman has frequently been mentioned.
However, such a contest is now in Makhachev's rearview mirror.
At a media day Insider attended Wednesday on Yas Island, Makhachev was asked whether he remains interested in a fight with McGregor.
"No," was his simple answer.
Ranked as the No.5 contender at lightweight, Makhachev can push for a title shot in the near future should he continue his winning ways against Hooker.
Only Michael Chandler, Beneil Dariush, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, and the champion Charles Oliveira currently rank ahead of him.
It is unclear what a victory over No.9-ranked McGregor - who has not registered a win in the division since 2016 - would do for Makhachev's ambitions in the weight class.
"I just want to fight for the title," he said.
McGregor continues his descent into 155-pound irrelevance
Makhachev's statement may be a bitter one for McGregor to hear as the sport, and more specifically the UFC's lightweight division, continues to move on from the Irishman.
McGregor has lost four fights in his last seven MMA matches.
His only win since claiming the UFC lightweight title with a second-round knockout over Eddie Alvarez five years ago is a 40-second smash-and-grab victory over Donald Cerrone at welterweight in 2020.
Makhachev is younger than the 33-year-old McGregor, has taken less damage, and is in form. He also appears hellbent on reaching the top.
McGregor, meanwhile, continues to recover from a broken leg suffered during his second successive defeat to Poirier earlier this year.
It is unclear when McGregor will return to the Octagon, or if he'll ever generate the momentum needed to return to the heights he reached when he was in his prime.