Islam Makhachev lists four fighters he believes outrank Ilia Topuria right now

Online streamer Adin Ross linked up with Makhachev’s camp during fight week for UFC 322, and got a first-hand look at the training regime.

Ross posed a question to the 34-year-old during their conversation, asking what changes he desired to see in the UFC.

“I’ll change the pound-for-pound rankings. Back to number one. This week, we’ll change,” Makhachev replied.

The conversation then shifted to who Makhachev rates as his top five fighters in the UFC.

He said: “Myself, [Alexandre] Pantoja, [Tom Aspinall], and [Alexander] Volkanovski, for sure.”

“That’s four? And Topuria.”

Islam Makhachev on his future plans

Makhachev has revealed that Khabib Nurmagomedov will have the final say on his retirement.

The 34-year-old told Weighing In he would walk away from MMA whenever Nurmagomedov, who went unbeaten in 29 professional fights, says it is time.

“Khabib is like my older brother,” Makhachev said.

“If he told me, for example, ‘Hey, you have to stop tomorrow, no more fighting.’ I would listen to him.

“He’s the guy in our gym who takes care of us, who controls us and always wishes us the best, he knows how to make the champions, not just in the gym, in my life, he did everything for me.”