As far as effort levels go for his training camp ahead of UFC 311, Islam Makhachev is only operating at a level of four out of five according to his coach and former lightweight kingpin, Khabib Nurmagomedov — who insisted there was no time for rest.
Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion and pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter on the organization’s books, returns to action in just weeks time in the headliner of UFC 311, taking on the surging number one ranked contender, Arman Tsarukyan in a title rematch.
Himself out of action through an unspecified arm injury since June of this year, Makhachev most recently took main event honors at UFC 302 in the summer, submitting former interim gold holder, Dustin Poirier in the fifth round of their showdown with a D’Arce choke submission win.