Khabib Nurmagomedov provided a major update for the fight fans wondering about Islam Makhachev’s next move. Well, with the drama engulfing the lightweight division, there’s nothing but uncertainty regarding Makhachev’s next opponent. Many fight fans seemed to believe that the lightweight champion will likely fight Ilia Topuria at UFC 317. While no confirmation came from the Dagestani team, fanmade posters for the fight going viral on the internet didn’t help. Meanwhile, Javier Mendez and Ali Abdelaziz claimed that Makhachev would most likely fight Justin Gaethje in his next bout. But ‘The Eagle’ wasn’t really focusing on that. Instead, he revealed the team’s training spot, as his unforgiving nature began spiraling on social media.
The former undefeated lightweight champion shared a carousel post on Instagram, where he showed pictures of his team commencing the training camp at the Sildi village. In the caption, he wrote, “Gathering high in the mountains in the village of Sildi has begun,” followed by an ‘OK’ emoji. Training in the mountains is often considered the reason for the Dagestani fighters’ strength and endurance. After all, working out at a higher altitude offers the athletes a chance to learn and condition themselves to fight with lower pressure, lower temperature, and lower concentration of oxygen in the air. And when it comes to training, ‘The Eagle’ doesn’t forgive any mistakes.
In a post by Red Corner MMA on Instagram, a video showed how strict Nurmagomedov actually was. On Monday (7 April 2025), two members of the team were being punished for staying absent in a previous training session. Nurmagomedov was recorded talking to Tagir Ulanbekov, saying, “You’re on duty for three days. It’s Monday… Let me talk, okay? It’s Monday today, right? Tuesday, and Wednesday, for those three days you’re on cleaning duty. Tagir, if they don’t show up next time, you’ll be on duty yourself! You got me?” The reason for the members’ absence was as simple as oversleeping. And Tagir, who was in charge of the guys, also overslept!
Well, that’s only natural with a body demanding more rest while being broken down repeatedly at high altitudes. But it was an unforgivable mistake for Khabib. When the man behind the camera, Islam Makhachev asked Usman Nurmagomedov about understanding and forgiving the fighters, the bantamweight star said, “Here, they don’t forgive anything.”
It’s crystal clear that the Dagestani team’s dominance in the MMA cage often comes because of the harsh training and unwavering discipline. But what about Islam Makhachev’s next fight? Is he really going to battle Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 as the viral posters suggest? Or will he go up against someone new? Let’s see what his coach and manager had to say about it.
Who will Islam Makhachev fight in his next bout?
According to Abdelaziz, the UFC had a special plan for the lightweight champion. Apparently, if Justin Gaethje could have defeated Dan Hooker at UFC 313, he would have received the golden ticket to a title shot. However, ‘The Hangman’ suffered a gruesome injury that pushed him out of the bout. Nevertheless, ‘The Highlight’ remained a fighter that Makhachev seemed excited to lock horns with. Even the AKA head coach was of a similar mind.
During his appearance on Submission Radio podcast, Denis Shkuratov asked Javier Mendez to weigh in on a matchup between Makhachev and Gaethje. The coach said, “Fantastic, then it’s Justin Gaethje. We’ll focus on Justin Gaethje. That would be, ideally for us, the perfect matchup based on his standing and what he’s done. He’s a big, known guy and Islam hasn’t fought him so it’s perfect.” Of course, Gaethje was a name that excited Makhachev. The former BMF champion was the last man to go against Khabib Nurmagomedov during his time as a champion. Defeating Gaethje would certainly put Makhachev on a higher pedestal, and who knows, he might convince Dana White to let him move to the welterweight division because he’d have beaten all the big names at lightweight.
But will he willingly fight Topuria? The answer is no. Following his victory over Renato Moicano at UFC 311, Makhachev revealed that he was tired of giving chances to featherweight fighters. This was indeed a reflection on his 2 wins over Alexander Volkanovski. Right now, he wanted to cement his legacy by becoming a two-division champion. “I need a second belt,” Makhachev declared. Team Khabib’s training at the Sildi mountains was the next step for his ascension.
What are your thoughts on the Dagestani team’s harsh training habits? Do you think Makhachev can retain his dominance in his next fight? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.
The post Khabib Nurmagomedov Drops Vital Update on Islam Makhachev’s Next Fight Status After Going Viral for Insane Training appeared first on EssentiallySports.
