5 reasons why Conor McGregor should call out Islam Makhachev for his next fight

#4. Conor McGregor may be able to get into Islam Makhachev’s head

Conor McGregor's trash talk and insults often get inside the head of his opponents.

With an impressive UFC record of 9-1, it’s difficult to deny that Islam Makhachev is one of the best lightweights in the world right now. However, despite dusting opponents like Drew Dober and Thiago Moises, the Dagestani native has not yet come up against an opponent willing to get personal with him.

How would Islam Makhachev react if he were faced with a foe who would attempt to get into his head prior to the fight with insults or trash talk? We simply don’t know. And that’s something Conor McGregor could capitalise on.

Very few fighters, if any, are as good as Conor McGregor when it comes to using mind games to get into an opponent’s head prior to a fight, and then capitalising on that inside the octagon.

‘The Notorious’ used his brand of trash talk, insults and massive confidence to get into the heads of the likes of Jose Aldo and Eddie Alvarez. That turned them into easy victims inside the octagon

There’s even an argument to suggest that McGregor threw Khabib Nurmagomedov off his usual game. Despite beating McGregor, ‘The Eagle’ acted in an irrational manner after their fight by triggering a brawl with the Irishman’s corner.

Other fighters in the lightweight division, like Michael Chandler, Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier, are well aware of that tendency, as they’ve come across it before with different opponents.

For Makhachev, though, it’d be all new – and may well give Conor McGregor a potential advantage, making it a worthwhile fight for him.

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#3. Islam Makhachev may be a beatable opponent for Conor McGregor

Could Conor McGregor find a way to outstrike Islam Makhachev?

On the surface, Islam Makhachev may well be considered a nightmare opponent for Conor McGregor. After all, Khabib Nurmagomedov exposed the holes in the Irishman’s ground game when they fought. Some have even claimed that Makhachev is better on the ground than ‘The Eagle’.

However, looking at the bigger picture, there’s an argument to suggest that Makhachev may well be a beatable opponent for ‘The Notorious’.

Firstly, Khabib may have been primarily known for his wrestling and ground game, but ‘The Eagle’ also possessed preternatural speed and explosiveness. That made it easy for him to both set up his takedowns, but also surprise his opponents with heavy strikes. That was seen when he fought Conor McGregor at UFC 229.

Islam Makhachev possesses a similar wrestling game to his teammate, but is not as fast as Khabib was in his prime. That means he often finds it harder to take opponents down. On the feet, though, Makhachev is a powerful and willing striker, but he certainly wouldn’t be considered great from a technical point of view.

Conor McGregor, meanwhile, at least in his prime, would’ve been considered one of the best strikers in UFC history. Blessed with phenomenal speed, accuracy and timing, ‘The Notorious’ used slick footwork to cut off his opponents before blasting them with brutal counterpunches, especially his left hand.

Against Makhachev, McGregor would not only enjoy a potential speed advantage, but also a reach advantage of nearly 4”. Based on what we saw ‘The Notorious’ do in his prime years, there’s every chance he could surprise UFC fans in a fight like this. He could make this fight look more like his clashes with Eddie Alvarez or Chad Mendes than his fight with Khabib.

As everyone is well aware, there’s nothing Conor McGregor likes more in the UFC than a match with a beatable opponent. That makes this fight one he should probably pursue.