Islam Makhchev calls out for Tony Ferguson match, wants to help El Cucuy retire

Islam Makhachev (19-1) has thrashed his opponents ever since he signed the UFC contract. He is due to fight Thiago Moises in a couple of days, but he has already eyed his next opponent. The Dagestani starlet has called out former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson. Taking a jibe at El Cucuy, Makhachev said that he wants to “help” retire by handing him his fourth consecutive loss in the UFC.

“I just want to help (Tony Ferguson) retire,” Makhachev told ESPN. “He lost his last three fights; he has to retire because all these guys from the top 10, all his three opponents, beat him very badly. I think he’s old now. So he has to retire, but I can help him.”

Ferguson’s aura has nosedived in recent years. He has lost to Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliviera, and Beniel Dariush consecutively. Once a title contender against Khabib Nurmagomedov, the MMA veteran is turning into a journeyman in the UFC.

On the flip side, Makhachev has been constantly pushed by his cousin and former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov to build his way up in the UFC and fight for the title. Nurmagomedov even claimed in a recent interview that his cousin could defeat lightweight champion Charles Oliviera and No. 1 contender Dustin Poirier.

There’s no doubt that a win against El Cucuy can cement Makhachev’s spot for a title fight in the next year. He is on a seven-fight win streak.