Khabib Nurmagomedov does not want UFC champions Islam Makhachev and Belal Muhammad to fight.
UFC lightweight champion Makhachev is trained by Nurmagomedov and has made it clear that he is eager to move up to welterweight to become a two-division champion.
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The 33-year-old defends his 155 pound strap at UFC 311 next month against Arman Tsarukyan in what could be his last fight in the lightweight division.
Nurmagomedov, 36, would of course support any decision made by his long-term friend and fellow Dagestani, but the only issue surrounds the man who currently resides as the welterweight king.
Muhammad became the UFC’s welterweight champion after beating Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in July, and has trained with Team Nurmagomedov on several occasions.
This means that Nurmagomedov could be left in an awkward position, should both men with their next fight.
Henry Cejudo, who is a former two-division champion himself, sat down with Nurmagomedov to ask him his thoughts on Makhachev going for the same feat.
“If they asked me to fight Belal when I was an active fighter, I would’ve said no,” Nurmagomedov said on Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry.
“For Belal and Islam, OK, you have to talk with them.
“In my heart, it’s not OK. It would be hard to prepare Islam to beat Belal. He is close to me. But I don’t think it’s ever going to happen.”
Nurmagomedov went undefeated with 29 wins during his iconic 12-year MMA career.
He has victories over the likes of Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje on his record.
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‘The Eagle’ retired after submitting Gaethje to retain the lightweight title at UFC 254 in October 2020 following the death of his father.
He has since coached and mentored Makhachev to glory in the same division he once dominated.
“For me it’s very hard to prepare someone to beat Belal,” Nurmagomedov added.
“If you want to beat someone like Belal, I think you have to stop him. Without getting a stoppage, what’re you going to do?
“If you take him down it’s very hard to control him over 25 minutes, first of all. And second, it’s very hard to dominate him in the striking game in all 25 minutes, because he mixes it up.
“He doesn’t stay with you all 25 minutes, he wrestles and slips, wrestles and slips. He’s good.”
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Nurmagomedov went on to say that he would like to see Muhammad fight someone like Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title.
However, only if Usman could beat someone like No.4 ranked Jack Della Maddalena in a number one contender bout.
The welterweight scene is one of the most exciting among the UFC’s roster, with Shavkat Rakhmonov set to challenge Muhammad for the belt next year.
The Kazakh star defeated Ireland’s Ian Garry at UFC 310 in December to earn his shot at a UFC title.
As well as Makhachev putting his title on the line at UFC 311, Merab Dvalishvili will defend his bantamweight belt against Umar Nurmagomedov in the co-main event.
Beneil Dariush takes on Renato Moicano in a top lightweight bout in the main card too, while former champions Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill square off.
UFC 311 is the first pay-per-view card of 2025 and is stacked from bottom to top.