“Whoever wins that fight between Islam vs. Kamaru can get out of here, because if Usman wins, he’s one and done, because he said he’s moving to get that title against Khamzat for the rematch. If Islam wins, he said he’s gonna hold it down for a long time, but i don’t believe that. If Islam gets the fight that he wants, that means not only did you submit your name at lightweight over your brother Khabib, but then you also got the double champ status, and then you also beat a GOAT in Usman. So you just pulled the Jon Jones. What else is there to do? What else can he do? You’d be foolish to keep fighting, because to me, Islam is not a natural 170 [pound] fighter, and that will get exposed if he fights a person like myself, Ian Garry, or Michael Morales.”

– via Submission Radio, arguing that Islam Makhachev should retire if he defeats Kamaru Usman, as he would have achieved "double champ" status and beaten a legend.

“A while ago, me and moicano were having a back and forth. I was saying me and him should do the ultimate fighter... but it just never ended up happening. I'd do one with Ilia, but they'd have to have security there 24/7.”

– via his YouTube channel, expressing willingness to coach on "The Ultimate Fighter" opposite Ilia Topuria

“With all due respect, i sell much more than the two who are going to fight for the [interim] title. I'm going to put on a great fight and i'm going to win this fight. And if it's a great fight and i win, i think i'll burst the bubble and i'll be next in line for the title again”

– via AS Fight, stating his belief that if he puts on a great performance and beats Max Holloway at UFC 326, he will "burst the bubble" and bypass the interim title contenders to become the next challenger for the lightweight title.

“Is the white house ready for derrick lewis? President trump loves derrick lewis and he hasn't told me to do anything… but he will not stop talking about derrick lewis so it's a big fight for derrick coming up”

– speaking to reporters after UFC 323, strongly hinting that Derrick Lewis, who he calls President Trump's "favorite fighter," is a likely addition to the UFC White House card.

“Young, experienced, explosive, a very dangerous fight. I do believe i'll put his lights out. This is what I need; it's been too long. I need to get back into the win column.”

– via UFC presser, predicting a finish over Song Yadong and emphasizing his need to end his current losing streak.

“It would have to be a very good offer for me to start cutting back to 155 [pounds], because I'm not young in this sport anymore, and every weight cut takes years off your health. It's not as easy as before to cut weight”

– about potential fight against Ilia Topuria at Lightweight division

“You are going to have to stuff his takedowns and make him work like Volkanovski did in that first fight. Stuff the takedowns and brawl with him. I think Topuria is the perfect fight for him. I think that fight needs to happen. Topuria has a low center of gravity, so he's going to be very hard to take down. When [Makhachev] is not taking him down, [Topuria] is going to be punching him with all he's got. So, I'm hoping that the UFC makes that fight next”

– via The Schmo, picking Ilia Topuria as the toughest stylistic matchup for Islam Makhachev at welterweight.

“I don't want to wait. If I perform very well and the UFC says 'Can you fight in January?', I'll take that fight right away”

– via MMA Fighting, expressing his willingness to fight Ilia Topuria for the belt in January 2026 if he defeats Dan Hooker.

“I promise, I am going to fight Makhachev at welterweight and I am going to beat him”

– pledging to move up and defeat Islam Makhachev for the welterweight title.

“It will be a lot closer of a fight than Islam vs Jack was. Islam vs Ilia would be the biggest, most skillful fight of all time. They're both 10/10 in MMA”

– via his YouTube Channel, analyzing a potential superfight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria.

“It will be a lot closer of a fight than Islam vs Jack was. Islam vs Ilia would be the biggest, most skillful fight of all time. They're both 10/10 in MMA”

– via his YouTube Channel, analyzing a potential superfight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria.

“You know what, I wrote that I think Islam is destined for this. He should fight Ilia Topuria at the White House. If he beats Topuria, he retires.Islam has plenty of money, right? Go out on your shield like Khabib did. A lot of people in MMA don't want to see that, but in mixed martial arts, we athletes stay too long at the party. There's no reason for an athlete to keep taking hits to the head and all that stuff. If I was him, fight Topuria at the White House. You beat Topuria, walk away”

– laying out an ideal retirement plan for Islam Makhachev: a superfight with Ilia Topuria, followed by walking away from the sport via his Youtube Channel

“No, this guy is never coming back. Khabib broke his mind, you know. This guy is never coming back; he is not going to fight anymore. I told this two years ago, and I still think he is not going to fight And now he has a disqualification from the antidoping commission. That's why I think, mo. Maybe Jon Jones will come back to fight at the White House, but not Conor”

– via Complex News Podcast when asked about Conor McGregor's return.

“This will knock Ilia [Topuria] off the number one spot if he beats Jack”

– stating that Islam Makhachev's win over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 will make him the new #1 Pound for Pound fighter, supplanting Ilia Topuria

“Jack's whole life will change on Sunday if he beats Islam Makhachev”

– via FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA, on the significance of the UFC 322 main event for Jack Della Maddalena.

“Defend the second belt maybe more times than Kamaru Usman, and enter the Hall of Fame”

– via UFC News, outlining his career goals after potentially winning a second title

“I think Topuria vs. Islam can be the biggest fight, not Jon Jones and Pereira. It's still a big fight, but not on that level”

– via the WEIGHING IN podcast, comparing the potential magnitude of a Topuria vs. Makhachev bout to Jones vs. Pereira.

“I think Topuria vs. Islam can be the biggest fight, not Jon Jones and Pereira. It's still a big fight, but not on that level”

– via the WEIGHING IN podcast, comparing the potential magnitude of a Topuria vs. Makhachev bout to Jones vs. Pereira.

“I want Islam to stay at welterweight because he just turned 34. It's not easy to be in one weight class all your life”

– shares about Islam future weight class via S Khalil

“I would like to be a defending champion. I'd like to see a champion sort of, at least clean out a lot of the top 10 guys before moving up. Respect to Islam, I do think he has moved up at a good time... He cleaned out the division and moved up. I'll try to do the same... [Middleweight is a possibility one day] Yeah, for sure. I'd like to fight Khamzat Chimaev at one point”

– shared his future plans via New York Post Sports