Islam Makhachev Wants Boxing Match with Conor McGregor

Islam Makhachev has admitted that he would like to compete in a boxing match against Conor McGregor, with the financial side of a potential bout not being his main motivation.

“Boxing pays very well. Honestly, I don’t know, but I would fight in a boxing match for any amount of money. But I would fight Conor, not an Olympic boxing champion,” Makhachev said in an interview with Ushataika.

The Russian recently attended the Zuffa event in the United States, where he met with Dana White and Turki Alalshikh. The two offered him the opportunity to face McGregor in a boxing match. Makhachev even called the Irishman, but serious talks never got underway before a confrontation broke out between the two.

McGregor recently made an unsuccessful return to the UFC after a five-year absence, suffering another serious leg injury. Despite that, Makhachev believes he would have a good chance of beating the Irishman in the boxing ring.

“If I say he’s not dangerous at all, I’d be wrong. He is dangerous, maybe in the first round, but after that, I don’t think he has any chance,” the champion said.

McGregor already has professional boxing experience. In 2017, he faced boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. and, despite losing by technical knockout in the 10th round, managed to make the fight competitive during its early stages.