Islam Makhachev Wants to Avoid ‘Conflict’ with Newly Crowned Khamzat Chimaev

Islam Makhachev talks about a potential fight with the newly crowned champion, Khamzat Chimaev, next.

Islam Makhachev Wants to Avoid ‘Conflict’ with Newly Crowned Khamzat Chimaev

Islam Makhachev doesn't want to discuss any possibility of fighting Khamzat Chimaev (via Imago)

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Khamzat Chimaev recently shocked everyone by becoming the new UFC middleweight champion after defeating Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319. It was a brutal display of wrestling dominance as the ‘Borz’ completely controlled DDP for more than 21 minutes. Following his incredible title-winning performance, Chimaev has many superfight options available, including one against Islam Makhachev.

A few months ago, Makhachev vacated his UFC lightweight championship to chase welterweight glory by potentially defeating Jack Della Maddelena. In a recent interview, Chimaev confidently stated that beating Makhachev would be the easiest way to gain pound-for-pound credibility. When asked about facing Chimaev during a press conference, Makhachev dismissed such circumstances for now.

Now, answering this question, I don’t want to open the door to any conflict between our peoples. We will see. I have a tough fight ahead. After that, we’ll see.

Islam Makhachev via Eagle FC press conference 

Chimaev hails from Chechnya, while Makhachev is from Dagestan; however, both are Muslim and respect each other. In the past, they have had a heated altercation at UFC 280 as Chimaev clashed with Abubakar Nurmagomedov.

Khabib Nurmagomedov, alongside Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, immediately intervened, acting as peacemakers to resolve tensions and prevent further escalation between the two fighters. Following that, Chimaev and Abubakar apologized, embraced publicly, and assured fans that no animosity remained, maintaining respect between both teams.

‘Borz’ has always been a huge fan of Nurmagomedov and found him inspiring during his struggling days. The fighter frequently mentioned that he has no beef with Khabib Nurmagomedov and has also credited Makhachev’s achievements. 

Chimaev has now successfully established himself as one of the most dominant fighters on the UFC roster. The fighter has claimed that he’s the best wrestler in UFC history, better than both Nurmagomedov and Makhachev. As a result, a potential fight between him and the former pound-for-pound king has raised such interest.

Khamzat Chimaev predicts Islam Makhachev’s next fight 

Islam Makhachev is currently deep in preparation for his upcoming clash against newly crowned welterweight champion Jack Della Maddelena. Despite Makhachev entering as the clear betting favorite, JDM remains unfazed by the overwhelming support and confidence surrounding the Dagestani. 

Khamzat Chimaev predicts Islam Makhachev vs. Jack Della Maddelena
Khamzat Chimaev predicts Islam Makhachev vs. Jack Della Maddelena (via X)

One of the biggest doubts among experts was Makhachev’s ability to gain weight and reduce the difference when it comes to size. Recently, Makhachev disclosed that he weighs 191 pounds but aims to increase muscle mass before the highly anticipated fight.

According to reports, the mega fight is scheduled to take place later this year inside the historic Madison Square Garden. While Della Maddelena expressed his preference to compete in Perth, Makhachev insisted on fighting under the bright lights of MSG. Ahead of this blockbuster showdown, Chimaev publicly shared his bold prediction regarding who will emerge victorious.

It’s good fight but a tough fight. I go a little bit more on Islam. 

Khamzat Chimaev via UFC 319 Media Day 

Following his dominant victory against Belal Muhammad, fans were highly impressed by Della Maddelena’s incredible performance and striking precision. The head movements and body shots remains his best weapons to trick the opposition. At UFC 315, Muhammad kept getting tagged by the body shots that eventually may have depleted his cardio.

Many enthusiasts boldly predicted that Maddelena could overcome Makhachev, citing his powerful striking and unshakable confidence against elite-level grapplers. For preparation, Della Maddelena collaborated with featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, gaining crucial tips due to Volk’s experience with the Dagestani.

Additionally, he trains with grappling mastermind Craig Jones, who has ongoing tensions with Team Khabib and aims to dismantle Dagestani dominance. It will be interesting to see whether all this preparation will be enough to beat Makhachev’s incredible undefeated streak.

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