UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has opened the door to a potential fight with former title holder Conor McGregor despite previously shutting down the idea.
There is a fierce rivalry between Makhachev's team, led by former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, and McGregor dating back to a fight in 2018 between the two former title holders. And the Irishman has claimed that he has the formula to beat Makhachev, who has looked unbeatable during his recent winning streak on the way to the lightweight title.
Now it seems that the lightweight champion would be willing to move up in weight and compete for the gold at 170lb. And if the promotion were to give him one fight before he challenges for the gold, it could be a massive money opportunity against McGregor after the Irishman's comeback.
"I'm really happy because I fight for something new," he told MMA Junkie of his upcoming defence against pound-for-pound No.1 and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. "It's not just to defend the belt, I want to be the pound-for-pound best fighter so this is the best way.
"For me it's not just defences, this is my new target, to be No.1. I like this, which is why I've said many times I want to jump to other divisions. When you have a new target it's new motivation. Welterweight is going to happen one day, I'm going to call Dana and say 'hey Dana just put on your mind if you need somebody at 170lb I'm going to be ready'."
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However, it's unlikely that fans looking to see the two go head-to-head will be satisfied any time in the near future, regardless of their next results. Ahead of his bout with Charles Oliveira back in October when he won the world title, Makhachev had completely rubbished the idea, and he hasn't publicly changed that view yet.
"He come back and just tweeted you know, that's it," Makhachev said during an appearance on the Full Send podcast when discussing if he would hand McGregor a title shot if he wins. "He's always in the Twitter because people almost forget him, you know. And he try to put something and he put today something, people are gonna talk about him.
"But I don't believe he's going to come back. Every fighter tries to call him out after they win. I'm not going call him after the fight because I want to fight with real fighters who deserve the title shot. Gamrot, Beneil, other guys."
