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Islam Makhachev’s coach warns Max Holloway away from title fight at lightweight: ‘It will be gruelling’

Islam Makhachev's coach warns Max Holloway from title fight it will be gruelling Javier Mendez, the head coach of Islam Makhachev has warned Max Holloway over a potential fight between the two….

Javier Mendez, the head coach of Islam Makhachev has warned Max Holloway over a potential fight between the two.

Holloway is coming off a thrilling fifth-round knockout win over Justin Gaethje to win the BMF title. After the win, Holloway called out Ilia Topuria for the featherweight title, as he would return to his weight class. But, many fans wanted to see him stay at lightweight and fight Makhachev for the lightweight title.

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If Holloway does stay at 155lbs and face Makhachev, Mendez believes it will be a long night for the Hawaiian.

“Justin Gaethje doesn’t use his wrestling. Islam Makhachev is not gonna go and stand with Max. He’s gonna take him down…so, it will be a grueling situation for Max. So, I don’t look at him as a huge threat,” Mendez said to Submission Radio.

Islam Makhachev calls for division move after UFC 302 I've already beat everyone at lightweight — Mandatory Credit: Giuseppe Cacece

Currently, Makhachev is set to defend his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier on June 1 in Newark, New Jersey. Should he win that, Holloway could face Makhachev for the belt, but if it does happen, Mendez does think it will be a tough fight for him.

Islam Makhachev shot down Max Holloway matchup

Although Javier Mendez believes Max Holloway will have a long night against Islam Makhachev, the lightweight champ hasn’t shown much interest in the fight.

After UFC 300, Makhachev says Arman Tsarukyan will be next after Poirier as he believes Holloway would need to win a couple of fights at 155lbs to get a title shot, so he doesn’t have much interest in the scrap.

“If he beats a couple more guys in my division, we can fight,” Makhachev told the New York Post. “I don’t want to give him chance now because I have some contenders who I have to beat. Now I have Dustin, after we’ll have Arman [Tsarukyan]. I think I’ll have some [work] in my division, he has [work] in his division. Maybe if he wins his next fight. Maybe [if] he beats [Ilia] Topuria, and I finish all of my two fights, maybe.”

Makhachev has also hinted at moving up to welterweight to try and become a champ-champ should he beat Poirier at UFC 302.

Islam Makhachev’s coach warns Max Holloway away from title fight at lightweight: ‘It will be gruelling’

Javier Mendez, the head coach of Islam Makhachev has warned Max Holloway over a potential fight between the two….

Javier Mendez, the head coach of Islam Makhachev has warned Max Holloway over a potential fight between the two.

If Holloway does stay at 155lbs and face Makhachev, Mendez believes it will be a long night for the Hawaiian.

Islam Makhachev shot down Max Holloway matchup

Although Javier Mendez believes Max Holloway will have a long night against Islam Makhachev, the lightweight champ hasn’t shown much interest in the fight.

Makhachev has also hinted at moving up to welterweight to try and become a champ-champ should he beat Poirier at UFC 302.

Khabib Nurmagomedov joins Islam Makhachev’s training camp ahead of UFC 302 title fight

Octagon icon Khabib Nurmagomedov is back in the gym and training alongside his protege. On Saturday, June 1, reigning…

Octagon icon Khabib Nurmagomedov is back in the gym and training alongside his protege.

On Saturday, June 1, reigning lightweight world champion Islam Makhachev will put his title on the line against division fan favorite Dustin Poirier in the UFC 302 main event.

As the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ prepares for a third defense of his 155-pound crown, much of the focus on the fight has surrounded Makhachev’s mentor and UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov.

After reports surfaced claiming that Nurmagomedov owes a fat stack of cash to the Russian Federal Tax Service, rumors ran rampant that ‘The Eagle’ was considering a return to the Octagon in search of a 30th career win. Fuel was added to that fire when it was revealed that the former lightweight champ had joined Makhachev in New Jersey for the final two weeks of his protege’s fight camp.

“Just landed,” Nurmagomedov wrote on Instagram.

Don’t expect to see Khabib Nurmagomedov strap on the four-ounce gloves again

Before you get too excited, don’t expect Nurmagomedov to jump back into the Octagon anytime soon, or ever for that matter. After a recent round of rumors regarding his return made headlines, longtime coach Javier Mendez shut down any possibility of Nurmagomedov fighting again on an episode of his podcast.

“I’m just letting you guys know that, you know, stop all this nonsense [on the internet] regarding Khabib [coming back to the UFC] and me and him training. There’s been no such thing happening. We’re not discussing training. We never have. Khabib is still devoted to what he said [about not fighting again]. He’s devoted his time to his family. He’s not working people’s corners. He’s not gonna ever fight. To my knowledge, it has never been spoken about.”

Mendez appears pretty confident that Nurmagomedov’s days of fighting are 100% over, but as they say in MMA, anything is possible.

It’s uncertain if ‘The Eagle’ will be in Makhachev’s corner inside the Prudential Center in Newark come fight night. If Nurmagomdeov does make the walk with Makhachev, it will be the first time since UFC 280 when Makhachev won the vacant title with a second-round submission victory over Charles Oliveira.

Khabib Nurmagomedov joins Islam Makhachev’s training camp ahead of UFC 302 title fight

Octagon icon Khabib Nurmagomedov is back in the gym and training alongside his protege. On Saturday, June 1, reigning…

Octagon icon Khabib Nurmagomedov is back in the gym and training alongside his protege.

On Saturday, June 1, reigning lightweight world champion Islam Makhachev will put his title on the line against division fan favorite Dustin Poirier in the UFC 302 main event.

As the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ prepares for a third defense of his 155-pound crown, much of the focus on the fight has surrounded Makhachev’s mentor and UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“Just landed,” Nurmagomedov wrote on Instagram.

Don’t expect to see Khabib Nurmagomedov strap on the four-ounce gloves again

“I’m just letting you guys know that, you know, stop all this nonsense [on the internet] regarding Khabib [coming back to the UFC] and me and him training. There’s been no such thing happening. We’re not discussing training. We never have. Khabib is still devoted to what he said [about not fighting again]. He’s devoted his time to his family. He’s not working people’s corners. He’s not gonna ever fight. To my knowledge, it has never been spoken about.”

Mendez appears pretty confident that Nurmagomedov’s days of fighting are 100% over, but as they say in MMA, anything is possible.

3 Most Anticipated MMA Fights of 2024

With this coming summer season set to bring some of the most high-profile fights of the year for the…

With this coming summer season set to bring some of the most high-profile fights of the year for the UFC, let’s take a look at the most anticipated bouts currently booked on paper ahead of a massive schedule for the sport leader.

Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier – UFC 302

Just mere weeks away, a huge undisputed lightweight title fight lands in Newark, New Jersey in June – with pound-for-pound number one, Islam Makhachev looking to rack up a third successful defense of his divisional title.

And matching with a fresh face following a pair of consecutive fights against former featherweight best, Alexander Volkanovski, dominant champion, Makhachev takes on the returning former interim champion, Dustin Poirier – who looks to strike it third time lucky in pursuit of an undisputed crown.

Earning his return to a title setting at UFC 302, Lafayette veteran, Poirier rallied against the surging, Benoit Saint Denis back in March – halting the Nimes native’s run through the division, with a highlight-reel KO win. Entering at number one on our list of the top three most anticipated bouts of the year – fans can bet on MMA fights – including Makhachev’s title defense against Poirier, up and until they enter the Octagon next month.

Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev – UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia

Marking the promotion’s first foray to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker looks to keep his slot atop the division’s elite, and likely earn himself another shot at his former crown, as he takes on unbeaten berserker, Khamzat Chimaev.

Whittaker, a fan-favorite former undisputed titleholder at 185lbs – returned to winning ways back in February at UFC 298 against former championship chaser, Paulo Costa, battling over the course of three rounds to land himself a split judging victory.

As for Chimaev, the Chechnya-born starlet has admittedly lost a head of steam built up since his October decision win over former champion and pound-for-pound pacesetter, Kamaru Usman in Abu Dhabi. However, he can go a long way to generating massive backing for a title fight once more with a victory over a name like Whittaker.

Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler – UFC 303

Arguably the most anticipated of these three fights we’ve chosen ahead of a huge summer period – especially for the mass audience and onlookers comes in the form of a return fight for ex-two-weight champion, Conor McGregor against rival, Michael Chandler at the end of next month at UFC 303 during International Fight Week.

Without a win since 2020 and sidelined for the last three years since a gruesome leg fracture, former undisputed lightweight and featherweight gold holder, McGregor makes his return to the welterweight limit of 170lbs in tandem with his entrance back to the Octagon.

For Chandler, the ex-Bellator MMA thrice-time lightweight gold holder will snap an almost two-year hiatus himself from active competition in his much-sought-after fight with the Dublin megastar, and with the added caveat of a first welterweight walk since a professional debut back in 2009, both have been flapping gums aplenty – with first round knockout predictions fielded by both.

Islam Makhachev credits Khabib Nurmagomedov with paving the way for his success inside the Octagon

Islam Makhachev credits Khabib Nurmagomedov with paving the way for him to become a UFC champion. On Saturday, June…

Islam Makhachev credits Khabib Nurmagomedov with paving the way for him to become a UFC champion.

On Saturday, June 1, the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ will return to the Octagon when the promotion heads back to Newark, New Jersey for UFC 302. Emanating from the Prudential Center, Makhachev will headline the event as he puts his 155-pound crown on the line against division fan favorite Dustin Poirier.

It will be Makhachev’s third time defending the belt after scoring back-to-back victories over former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski last year.

Speaking with former UFC champions Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Makhachev credited ‘The Eagle’ for carving out a path to the lightweight title for both of them.

“For me, it’s more easy because Khabib showed me the way,” Makhachev said. “I just have to follow, do what he did. Now he retired but he still pushes us. He comes after tomorrow to the [UFC 302] camp, and it’s gonna be like last 10 days. But I know, he will come and the last 10 days is gonna be so crazy.”

After defeating Al Iaquinta at UFC 223 to win the lightweight belt, Nurmagomedov successfully defended the title three times, defeating Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje along the way. In October 2020, he laid down both his gloves and his gold, retiring from the sport following the passing of his father and coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.

Islam Makhachev lives up to the legacy

While fans are still holding out hope that Khabib Nurmagomedov will return one day in search of a 30th career win, Islam Makhachev has more than lived up to the legacy left behind by ‘The Eagle.’ Today, the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ is a near-perfect 25-1 in mixed martial arts with 14 of his wins coming under the UFC banner.

Makahchev is currently listed as the No. 1 ranked P4P fighter in the world.

Dustin Poirier will look to change that in The Garden State.