Islam Makhachev recently made clear that loyalty to his training team matters more than any title opportunity.
Speaking on the Mighty Cast, the reigning UFC lightweight and welterweight champion explained why the idea doesn’t sit right with him:
How are you going to compete against each other? If you’re training, I don’t know, like many years together, like every time.
For example, many camps, Chanko just comes to Usman’s camp just to help him, you know, give him good rounds.
And, like, Usman goes to his camp, gives him good rounds, helps him.
Makhachev pointed to his own history with former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov as the clearest example of the principle in practice:
For like also for myself, when Khabib became champion, I’m never gonna, it’s not gonna happen, you know.
Because when I’m beginning this sport, Khabib’s like from the first day help me, you know.How are we going to compete against each other? It’s not like about friends, you know.
We’re all brothers, you know, and it’s not possible for our teammates to compete against each other.
Makhachev acknowledged that both Chanko and Usman Nurmagomedov are capable of competing at multiple weight classes, which could theoretically create overlap:
Maybe bro, Usman also is not small guy. Chanko is not also small guy.
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