![Ali Abdelaziz (middle) weighs in on potential clash between Islam Makhachev (left) and Kamaru Usman (right). [Images courtesy: Getty]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/05/20831-17478846859274-1920.jpg)
![Ali Abdelaziz (middle) weighs in on potential clash between Islam Makhachev (left) and Kamaru Usman (right). [Images courtesy: Getty]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Following Islam Makhachev’s announcement that he’s moving up to 170 pounds, Ali Abdelaziz gave his take on a potential matchup between the Dagestani and Kamaru Usman.
In a recent conversation with Mike Bohn from MMA Junkie, Abdelaziz was asked whether two of his most high-profile clients would ever fight each other. In response, the MMA manager said that Usman is one of the biggest names at 170 pounds and that a fight between 'The Nigerian Nightmare' and Makhachev is possible if both continue to win their respective matches:
"He's the greatest welterweight of all time. He's Dana White's favorite fighter. Dana loves Kamaru Usman, 100 percent. Like, they have a very unique relationship. Listen, Kamaru is one of the biggest names in the division."
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He added:
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"Guess what? If Kamaru wins, Islam wins, they want to fight, I'm going to stay home, and I'm going to be watching from home. You know, I can see this fight happening too."
Check out Ali Abdelaziz's comments below (28:06):
Usman is preparing to face Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta on June 14. Meanwhile, Makhachev is expected to compete against Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC welterweight title next. However, there are currently no official announcements regarding Makhachev's next fight.
Kamaru Usman gets honest about potential Islam Makhachev fight
Islam Makhachev is the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC right now. At one point, when Kamaru Usman was the UFC welterweight champion, he also held the same honor.
'The Nigerian Nightmare' recently spoke about possibly fighting Makhachev on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo. Expressing his openness to the matchup if the opportunity arises, Usman said:
"Obviously, that's a blockbuster fight. Former pound-for-pound and the current pound-for-pound champion. And that's something we'd have to talk about because I love those guys. Islam, Khabib, I love 'em all... I think Islam and I are mature enough to have a conversation about that. [Would I be open to it when the time comes?] I don't see why not."
Check out Kamaru Usman's comments below (14:13):
