Islam Makhachev, a well-known MMA fighter, expressed confidence that Conor McGregor, a former UFC champion in two weight classes, is unlikely to return to the octagon. According to Makhachev, the psychological trauma inflicted by Khabib Nurmagomedov has left a lasting mark on McGregor.
“I said two years ago that this guy will not fight again. And now, when I hear about his disqualification from the anti-doping commission, I stand by my opinion. Maybe Jon Jones will show up again to fight in the White House, but not Conor,” Makhachev noted in an interview on the Complex News channel.
Recall that the 37-year-old McGregor had previously stated his intentions to compete in a tournament at the White House, scheduled for the summer of 2026, and for this purpose, he has intensified his training.
In the fall fight of 2018, Conor suffered a defeat against Khabib Nurmagomedov in one of the most anticipated bouts.
At the recent UFC 322 tournament held in New York, Islam Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena, becoming the new champion in the welterweight division. This victory made him the first Russian fighter to win a title in this UFC category.
By defeating Australian Della Maddalena, who was the titleholder, Islam joined the ranks of famous welterweight champions, including Pat Miletich, Carlos Newton, Matt Hughes (twice), B.J. Penn, Georges St-Pierre (twice), Matt Serra, Johnny Hendricks, Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley, Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards, Belal Muhammad, and Jack Della Maddalena.
This was Islam's debut fight in the welterweight division; previously, he was the champion in the lightweight division.
