ISLAM MAKHACHEV’s timeline for retirement has been revealed by his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
After dominating all comers at lightweight, the Dagestani destroyer will look to step out of his good friend’s shadow at UFC 322 early on Sunday morning by claiming the welterweight title.
Makhachev’s attempt to attain double-champ status will see him take on 170lbs titleholder Jack Della Maddalena at the world-famous Madison Square Garden.
But regardless of the outcome, Nurmagomedov doesn’t want his good friend and “brother” fighting much longer.
‘The Eagle’ said: “My honest opinion – one and a half, two years — because age is gonna be October, 34.
“Nobody gonna be same when time come. They don’t ask, “What’s your age?”
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Nurmagomedov knows a thing or two about retiring at the peak of his powers, having brought the curtain down on his perfect career five years ago following the passing of his father and coach, Abdulmanap.
He retired aged 32 after promising his mother he’d no longer compete without his father by his side.
But he admits he wouldn’t have hung around too much longer had he continued his career.
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He continued: “Of course, I finish when I was 32. I don’t even begin because I have this situation with my life, that’s why.
“But when you become 35, you need to stop doing this, because leave this sport for young guys.”
Makhachev is hellbent on becoming a two-division champion to cement his legacy as an all-time great.
But Aussie assassin Della Maddalena plans to give the former pound-for-pound king a rude welcome to the division.
He said on the UFC 322 countdown: “I see this going similarly to the Belal fight. Islam will try more for takedowns.
“But ultimately, I will be able to get back to my feet every round and really be able to sting him on the feet, damage him.
“Break him and then take him out.
“It would be the dream to get the finish in MSG, blow the roof off the place and cement myself as one of the great welterweights.”
