Daniel Cormier thinks a forgotten contender could be the toughest fight of Islam Makhachev’s career

There might be at least one stern test for Islam Makhachev at 170 pounds.

The former lightweight king added more gold to his résumé at this past Saturday’s UFC 322 pay-per-view at Madison Square Garden.

In the main event, Makhachev dethroned Jack Della Maddalena in dominant fashion, outclassing the Australian with his smothering wrestling game for the five-round duration.

Having seen how easily the Dagestani dispatched Della Maddalena, many are struggling to see who could present a challenge for the UFC’s latest two-division champion.

Daniel Cormier, though, thinks the toughest fight of Makhachev’s career could lie ahead.

Who should Islam Makhachev fight next?

Daniel Cormier believes Shavkat Rakhmonov has the tools to trouble Islam Makhachev

When it comes to Makhachev’s next opponent after UFC 322, most discussions involve another winner from the event in New York City, a legend of the division, and his successor at lightweight.

While Michael Morales knocked out Sean Brady to stake his claim, the Dagestani has pointed to Kamaru Usman as his preference over the Ecuadorian and a potential superfight with Ilia Topuria.

According to ‘DC’, however, the champ’s biggest threat would come from a somewhat forgotten man in the division — the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov.

“Shavkat Rakhmonov is the guy that I think about and I go, ‘Man, that is a crazy fight to think about. Islam vs. Rakhmonov,'” Cormier said on a recent episode of his Good Guy/Bad Guy show.

“The size of Rakhmonov, the wrestling ability of Rakhmonov, and the striking of Rakhmonov…boy, that is a good one.

“I thought last weekend would have been the toughest fight of his career. He clearly proved that wasn’t the case,” he continued.

“I think, though, if he was to fight Shavkat, that would easily be the hardest fight of his career.”