“He has to call out Dana,” Khabib Nurmagomedov advise Islam Makhachev ahead of his fight at UFC 267

As good of a fighter Islam Makhachev is, he is equally blessed to have an even elite corner to train him, the one that includes retired UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Khabib has been pretty busy with coaching his fellow Russian fighters lately and but he has been on Islam’s corner even before his retirement.

Nonetheless, it’s not only Khabib’s experience in fighting but also his experience in the fighting business as well that will certainly help Islam elevate the level of his competition and his fighting career. Khabib knows what it feels like to dare, back in 2016 when he called out UFC President Dana White for sending him a “bulls**t” contract that didn’t help in Khabib’s career, and he did it all while fighting inside the cage.

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He hopes that Islam makes a similar move so that he gets White’s immediate attention and White can work for his upcoming fights to be better for him. Islam fights this Saturday at UFC 267 when he goes in a 3-round bout with top-tier Lightweight Dan Hooker. If Islam wins the Hooker fight, this will be the biggest win of his career and probably a statement to get into the title conversation.

Here’s what former UFC lightweight champion and retired, undefeated mixed martial artist Khabib Nurmagomedov says for Islam Makhachev’s career

“This Saturday, when he [Islam] finishes Dan Hooker, he just has to call out Dana White,” says Khabib. “And all his life will change. Do you remember when UFC don’t give me a title shot I came very close to the cage and said: ‘Hey Dana, don’t send me your bulls**t contract! I need real fights!’ He has to call out Dana because they won’t give him top opponents.”

Khabib said all of this while hilariously crashing into his friend and former teammate, retired UFC 2-division champion, Daniel Cormier’s show titled “The DC Check-In. Cormier was interviewing Makhachev ahead of his fight at UFC 267 taking place in Etihad Arena, Fight Island, Abu Dhabi.

Islam Makhachev, since his only loss in MMA, is on an eight-fight win streak, the second-longest active win streak in the UFC Lightweight Divison, tying him up behind the current UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira who’s on 9.

If won, this fight will tie Makhachev’s win streak with the champion and there you can have a storyline that can bring attention for making a fight. But this happens only if Oliveira defends his title at UFC 269 against Dustin Poirier.

Also Read: “I want to be like Khabib,” Islam Makhachev cherishes his presence reminiscent of Khabib Nurmagomedov