“If I had to pick one guy to give Makhachev a loss at 170 lbs or an amazing fight, it's Usman. That's somebody who can wrestle back into Makhachev... and Usman's no pushover in the wrestling. I think he's better on the feet, he's bigger, he's longer, he's stronger.”

– via Death Row MMA, breaking down why the former welterweight king is the ultimate foil for Islam Makhachev’s double champ ambitions.

“I think Ilia does Gaethje worse. Ilia's gonna beat the f**king brakes off him. He retires Homer Simpson and he'll never come back fighting that dude. Homer Simpson is not walking out of that alive.”

– via Death Row MMA, sharing a brutal prediction for the Freedom 250 White House main event between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje.

“It’s a good thing Paddy didn’t win, because if he did, he was going to get torched by Ilia... I think Ilia is on a whole other planet when it comes to these guys”

– via Death Row MMA podcast, providing a brutal reality check following Justin Gaethje's interim title victory over Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324.

“Whether it had been me or Nate fighting Max, it wasn't going to be his best night either. So I don't think laughing stock and what, because the skill level is obviously there... I think he is a great stand—up fighter, I just think I'm better... Yeah, I guess [I take offense to his words] because I competed for it first, but at the same time, I don't take offense to it. He held both belts, so he can say that.”

– via The Ariel Helwani Show, responding to Max Holloway’s claim that the BMF title was a "laughing stock" before he won it.