Islam Makhachev believes Conor McGregor may retire if he loses to Michael Chandler.
McGregor is currently on a two-fight losing skid and is coming off a broken leg that he has been rehabbing and is now set to coach TUF 31 against Chandler. Later this year after the season airs, the two will fight and according to the lightweight champ in Makhachev, he believes the Irishman will retire should he lose three straight.
Islam Makhachev on Conor McGregor
“It’s a good fight for MMA fans, but if Chandler wins, [McGregor] is going to retire for sure,” Makhachev said at UFC 284 media day. “Make some good money and that’s it. But Chandler, so smart guy, because I saw his last couple fights, he fights like crazy, like he comes from the street. But now I understand why he did this, because if he beat [Dustin] Poirier and [Justin] Gaethje, this fight never happens. But the last four fights, they have same streak, they lose three times, that’s why this fight is happening. And for Conor, he chooses a good way too. He chooses small guy, 170 [pounds], and finally someone is going to win.”
Conor McGregor has retired in the past but came back so perhaps Islam Makhachev will be correct if he retires. Yet, if the Irishman wins, perhaps he gets a crack at Makhachev’s title should the champ get past Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284.
Of course, Islam Makhachev thinks it’s funny now that fighters are calling him after avoiding him during his rise up the ranks.
“The game has changed when I take the belt,” Makhachev said. “Now the people or fighters know my name. Before they tried to avoid me, but for [Volkanovski], it’s a good fight. What’s he going to lose? Belt? Nothing. He just come to the fight, make money, but after that fight he can step [back into] his division and be champion. He’s not losing much on this fight.”
