Islam Makhachev: “If I see that I cannot keep up, that young people are overtaking me, then why should I torture myself? I’m going to stop”

Russian UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev On , he spoke about his hobbies and career prospects.

Makhachev can fight against UFC lightweight division number one Arman Tsarukyan in early 2025. The fighters previously met at a tournament in St. Petersburg in 2019. Tsarukyan, who debuted at the UFC in this fight, lost to Makhachev by decision.

— I lead an active life. I try to go to the farm at home. Motorcycles, ATVs, fishing.

—And your education?

— I graduated from Dagestan State University, Faculty of Physical Education, and now I got a job in the UFC (laughs).

— What specialty?

– Coach.

— How many times have you been to DSU?

— I went to class all the time. In 4th and 5th grade, I didn’t do much because there were constant training camps. But in the first three years, I didn’t miss classes at all. I had a routine: I go for a run in the morning, I go to the university, the fourth pair ends at three o’clock, from three o’clock I go to training, I train from five to seven o’clock. Directly at the station I try to take the minibus and go home.

— Did you install it with an automatic machine?

– No. They told me, here is a task for you, learn it, tell me, you have concessions, but you have to say something.

— Tsarukyan likes watches, which he doesn’t hide. Do you have a similar hobby?

– Horses. I buy them. Now I bought a horse in America. She will now be in quarantine for a month. Then he will come. I intend to expose it to the highest level of our country.

— Do you know the Makhachkala hippodrome? That it has been dismantled and that houses will be built there?

– Yes. I had horses at this racetrack. Now they are in the barn.

—How can there not be horses in Dagestan?

– I don’t know. That’s a very good question. There is no racetrack to hold normal horse races. These are traditions, everyone knows how to ride horses, our ancestors rode them. These days you rarely find such guys. Maybe only in the mountains. And if we had a good racecourse in Makhachkala, we could organize races every weekend, develop this love of horses, this love of our culture. But alas! Now they build houses, houses, there aren’t even any trees anymore. Not like racetracks and stadiums!

—What is the worst thing for you? Stop developing?

“I wouldn’t say it’s that scary.” If I feel like I’ve stopped, then I need to stop.

— Is there a number on file or an age threshold at which you will stop?

– No. I don’t associate anything with that. Beterbiev is 39 years old and is the best boxer in the world. Years are not the limit. I don’t have any numbers at all. I train with a lot of young people at the gym. If I see that I can no longer keep up, that they are catching up with me, overtaking me, then why should I torture myself? I’m going to stop. But so far there is no such thing. I feel like I’m in a hurry.

Professionally [пожелаю себе] don’t slow down. Because the first time I said that, there was no such competition, no such desire on the part of people to take my belt away. Now everyone wants to take it off. You can’t slow down.

– And personal?

“I don’t even know what to wish for.” You need to back up everything you have. Stay the same. I help people, my teammates, the team, everyone around me,” Makhachev said on .

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Source : MatchTV

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