Islam Makhachev has revealed that his mother wants him to follow in the footsteps of Khabib Nurmagomedov and retire after his lightweight title defence against Alex Volkanovski at UFC 284.
Makhachev made his first successful title defence in a closely contested fight against Volkanovski in Australia at UFC 284. The Dagestani was a sizable favourite going into the fight, but his opponent gave him a run for his money and almost finished him in the dying moments of the fifth round.
The reigning lightweight champion wants to defend his title a few more times, before moving up to welterweight, but his mother wants him to follow in the footsteps of his best friend Khabib, and retire.
Islam Makhachev On What His Mother Told Him
In a recent interview with UFC Russia (as transcribed by BJPenn.com), Makhachev said that although his father loves watching him fight, his mother wants him to ride into the sunset.
“My mother doesn’t watch fights, not just my fights – fights in general,” Makhachev said. “She doesn’t like seeing people hit each other. When I came home there were a lot of people there. [My mother] said, ‘You’re a champion now. Wrap it up. Khabib listened to his mother. When will you listen to yours? I told her Khabib defended his title and I need to do the same. It’s a hard topic for my mother. My father’s the opposite. He watches all the fights.”
Khabib retired after making his third successful lightweight title defence at UFC 254, where he submitted Justin Gaethje in the second round. He retired upon his mother’s request.
Who do you think Islam Makhachev should fight next?
