Islam Makhachev would take Velasquez and Khabib to a street fight.

1 day ago7 min read

In a moment that felt more like a group chat than a press conference, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev just laid out the ultimate fantasy fight team, and let's just say, it's not who you'd expect for a street brawl. When asked by a reporter who referenced Arman Tsarukyan's own picks—which included Makhachev himself, the retired, undefeated legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, and the terrifyingly chaotic Khamzat Chimaev—Makhachev didn't just fire back; he brought in the heavy artillery.Forget lightweight contenders; Makhachev is thinking big, literally. His dream team for a street fight? None other than the colossal former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, the always-game Daniel Cormier, and of course, his mentor and friend, Khabib.His reasoning was as pragmatic as his fighting style: 'You need big guys. You can't wrestle on the street.' It's a statement that hits different when you consider the context. Makhachev, the man who has made sambo and Dagestani chain-wrestling an art form that dominates the octagon, is admitting that the concrete doesn't play by the Unified Rules.It's a raw, unfiltered look into the fighter's mindset, where survival trumps sport. But the real gem, the line that had everyone in the room cracking up, came when the reporter, playing devil's advocate, questioned if the 45-year-old Cormier might be a step slow for a chaotic scrap.Makhachev, with the deadpan delivery of a seasoned veteran, simply said, 'You can send him out front as a shield. ' It's the kind of hilarious, no-cap response you'd expect from a teammate who has shared countless training camps and knows the unbreakable bond between them.This isn't just fight promotion; it's personality. It’s Makhachev showing a relatable, almost playful side just days before he headlines the massive UFC 322 pay-per-view in New York against the surging welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena.The stakes for that fight couldn't be higher, a champion vs. champion super-fight that has the entire combat sports world buzzing.Yet, here's Makhachev, cool as ever, casually drafting his street fight roster like it's a fantasy basketball league. It makes you wonder about the unspoken hierarchy in fight camps.Who would really be on whose team? It also throws a spotlight on the enduring legacy of the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), the legendary gym that produced both Velasquez and Cormier, and where Makhachev and Khabib have spent so much time. This pick is a nod to that brotherhood, a recognition of the giants upon whose shoulders he stands.It’s a reminder that while footwork and jabs win titles, sometimes, you just need a 240-pound former Olympian to run interference. In the end, Makhachev’s picks tell a story far beyond a hypothetical question.They reveal a deep respect for power, a shrewd understanding of real-world chaos, and the unshakeable loyalty that defines his career. Now, the only question left is: who's making the team T-shirts?.

#featured

#Islam Makhachev

#UFC

#street fight

#Daniel Cormier

#Khabib Nurmagomedov

#interview

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