Las Vegas, NV — Heading into the first main event of his career at UFC Vegas 31, Islam Makhachev “feel good,” he told media outlets including Cageside Press on Wednesday. “Cutting weight is always not easy. Now, main event, a lot of media, a lot of other stuff. But I’m okay.”
That extra media isn’t something he is loving, but as Makhachev’s star grows, he recognizes that it comes with the territory. “Not enjoying, no, but I have to be ready for this. Because now it’s beginning,” he observed. “Next fight, and all my career is going to be like this, because now I am close [to the] belt I think. But when you cut weight, this is always hard.”
On thing the Dagestani fighter, heir apparent to Khabib Nurmagomedov in the lightweight division, feels will help things is brushing up on his English skills. “I have to just improve my English, and they’re going to be better,” he said in regards to his media duties. “Now, it’s a little bit hard, because my English is not very well. But I promise I’m going to improve, make more interviews, joke with you guys.”
That’s something he’s already comfortable doing in his native Russian. “Not like talk trash, but people know when I speak Russian, I use a lot of jokes and things like this.”
Atop the UFC Vegas 31 card, Makhachev has been lined up with Brazil’s Thiago Moises.
“I know this guy,” said Makhachev, adding that he had seen a couple of Moises’ fights. “He’s tough. He has good skills, he’s good everywhere. Because my last opponent, Drew Dober, has a very good striking game, and everybody knows about his wrestling, grappling. But this guy has good striking, good grappling.”
As much as a finish is important for Makhachev in his first main event, he’s never gone five rounds before. “Maybe if go all rounds, maybe this is going to be good for me too, because this is a big experience. I never fight five rounds.”
The Eagles MMA and AKA team member is well-known as part of Khabib Nuragomedov’s inner circle. Asked about Khaib’s transition to coach, Makhachev noted that “now, Khabib [is] retired, but he pushed all guys from [the] team. Sometimes he pushed too much, because he’s resting, not training, he doesn’t understand how they hurt. We finished training, but he still gives some exercise. Now he like, pushes everybody.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 31 media day scrum with Islam Makhachev above.
