Makhachev, the longtime friend and training partner of Khabib Nurmagomedov, said he wants to take the fight that the reigning lightweight champion saw dissolve five times before – and that he wants to make a statement with a win over “El Cucuy.”
“My dream fight is Tony because we have some deal with him, like a couple years now,” Makhachev told reporters, including MMA Junkie, following his UFC 259 win over Drew Dober at the UFC Apex. “He’s still, like, pressuring Khabib. I don’t understand this guy, but I want to just help him retire. He is old. His mind is a little bit crazy. That’s why I just want to help him.”