Legendary fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov has weighed in on what he believes is the most significant fight the UFC could organize today. Despite upcoming major events, Nurmagomedov pointed to a specific showdown as holding the greatest potential.
The UFC has a packed schedule in the coming months. Among the highlighted events is a card at the White House on June 14th, featuring a lightweight title unification bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. The co-main event will see Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane compete for an interim heavyweight championship.
Additionally, July’s UFC 329 is slated to feature Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated return against Max Holloway, with Gable Steveson also making his UFC debut on the same night.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Pick for the Biggest UFC Fight
According to Khabib Nurmagomedov, the most substantial fight the UFC can currently book is a potential clash between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. Speaking on the “WEIGHING IN” podcast, Nurmagomedov suggested that while a superfight between Jon Jones and Alex Pereira would be massive, it wouldn’t generate the same level of excitement as Makhachev vs. Topuria.
A bout between Makhachev and Topuria was reportedly in discussion for the June 14th event but ultimately did not materialize. The exact reasons for the cancellation remain unclear, with speculation ranging from Makhachev’s hand injury to Topuria’s financial demands.
Currently, Ilia Topuria is set to face Justin Gaethje on June 14th. Meanwhile, the pound-for-pound king, Islam Makhachev, is expected to defend his lightweight title in August, with Ian Machado Garry rumored to be his opponent.
Topuria has expressed his intention to move up to the welterweight division after his fight with Gaethje. This opens the door for a potential superfight between Makhachev and Topuria, which remains a possibility for late 2026 or early the following year, as both fighters have indicated their willingness to compete against each other to establish dominance.