Last weekend, Islam Makhachev successfully defended his UFC lightweight title with a dramatic knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski last weekend at UFC 294, and former UFC champion turned commentator Daniel Cormier has shared his thoughts on who he thinks Makhachev should face next.
Doesn't matter who's next, @MakhachevMMA is ready 😤 #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/gqCQvdfQBo
— UFC (@ufc) October 21, 2023
While many are expecting to see Makhachev face one of the current top contenders, such as Justin Gaethje or Charles Oliveira, ‘DC’ has suggested that McGregor would be an exciting matchup, and would certainly result in a massive pay-per-view draw.
“I think Islam should fight Conor next,” Cormier said. “Because listen to this now, it’s built-in. It’s the biggest money fight the UFC can make and why not? You have Islam Makhachev who looks to be a guy who’s gonna be a dominant champion. In order to have that dominant champion go to the next level of superstardom, you need a foil. You need a guy that can elevate him. The guy that can elevate him to that level is Conor McGregor.”
“Look at what beating Conor McGregor did for Dustin Poirier, look at what it did for Khabib Nurmagomedov,” he continued. “We’re not even talking about all the other levels at which this just makes sense. You have Islam fighting Conor after the issues Conor has had with Khabib and everything else. You have Islam fighting Conor, the biggest star in mixed martial arts. Conor coming back to the UFC. It makes all the sense in the world.”
Cormier raises a good point with regard to the popularity increase that occurred when Khabib Nurmagomedov squared off with McGregor, but it is not evident that popularity much to Makhachev. He has been consistent in carrying that mindset that he will fight whomever the UFC sees fit to put in front of him.
