If one man near Islam Makhachev is to be believed, the UFC light-weight champion could possibly be approaching the tip of the street.
Because it stands, the Dagestani is gearing up for a brand new chapter in his profession. Makhachev will vacate the lightweight title forward of a transfer as much as the welterweight division this 12 months.
Awaiting the dominant 155-pound king at 170 kilos is recently crowned UFC champion Jack Della Maddalena, who outlasted Belal Muhammad to take the crown at UFC 315.
However even earlier than his stint in a brand new weight class will get underway, a former fighter who is aware of Makhachev effectively has predicted a fast exit.
Josh Thomson predicts Islam Makhachev will solely defend the UFC welterweight title as soon as
Throughout a current episode of his Weighing In podcast, former Strikeforce champion and UFC contender Josh Thomson appeared forward to Makhachev’s main profession adjustment.
‘The Punk’ is aware of the Dagestani fighter effectively, having educated alongside him and the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov on the famend American Kickboxing Academy fitness center in San Jose, California.
And like Nurmagomedov did, Thomson is anticipating to see Makhachev cling up the gloves whereas on high.
“I feel he’ll defend it [the UFC welterweight] title one time [before retiring],” Thomson mentioned. “I additionally consider it’s gonna in all probability be a Shavkat [Rakhmonov], perhaps a Sean Brady if Sean Brady will get previous…Ian Garry, there’s discuss that they’re scheduled to struggle.
“If it finally ends up being an Ian Garry, I don’t know if he’ll do it. I feel he’ll in all probability simply be like, ‘Okay, I’m good.’ I feel he needs to struggle guys that need to struggle, not run round.
“34 years outdated, he understands that the time is coming. He’s someone that doesn’t need to take a nasty loss,” Thomson added. “He needs to have the ability to exit on his personal phrases.”
What Islam Makhachev has mentioned about retirement
In the case of the person himself, the dominant light-weight champion has remained coy a couple of potential timeline for his profession’s conclusion.
Earlier than Makhachev submitted Renato Moicano at UFC 311 in what is going to go down as his remaining title protection at 155 kilos, the Russian standout was requested about retirement throughout an interview with Demetrious Johnson.
“ what my opinion is,” Makhachev mentioned. “It’s not like information, it’s not like age.
“My opinion is, I’m going to the fitness center, and I informed you, all the children need to present one thing to me. And once I perceive I can not cease the folks, I can not compete with the younger guys, then I’m fascinated by [retiring]
“However proper now, it’s not time to speak about this as a result of I do know I can do extra, and I enhance [in] all my fights,” Makhachev added.
For now, Makhachev can have his full give attention to conquering one other UFC championship by making Della Maddalena’s reign a brief one.
However maybe the Dagestani will be a part of his buddy and mentor Nurmagomedov within the teaching realm sooner reasonably than later.
