Islam Makhachev Could Face Khamzat Chimaev in Grappling Outside the UFC

Islam Makhachev’s manager has identified a possible route for the UFC welterweight champion to compete while his next appearance in the Octagon remains a talking point: grappling matches against opponents who can wrestle. Khamzat Chimaev, Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman are among the names Rizvan Magomedov says could make those contests compelling.

Magomedov discussed the idea in a recent interview with Bostanov MMA. His comments leave the door open to Makhachev competing outside the UFC, though they don’t establish that the champion is pursuing a match or that any opponent has been approached.

Magomedov wants a real grappling challenge

The manager drew a distinction between a high-profile exhibition and a matchup that could test Makhachev’s wrestling. He dismissed a bout with Nate or Nick Diaz as one-sided, then pointed to wrestlers with serious credentials as more interesting possibilities.

“We cannot rule out seeing him compete (in grappling),” Magomedov said, per Red Corner MMA.

“For publicity, we could bring a Diaz brother. But it would not be interesting. It would be one-sided. I do not see any threat, especially in wrestling.”

He then named several opponents who could make the competitive question more substantial: “We should look at guys who can wrestle. Colby Covington would be very interesting. He could wrestle Khamzat Chimaev. An interesting match. Kamaru Usman would be very interesting too. We could look further down the list.”

The appeal is clear. A grappling match would let Makhachev compete in the area that has defined much of his success without requiring a UFC bout. For a matchup to hold interest, though, Magomedov’s comments suggest the opponent’s wrestling must provide a genuine test. That makes Chimaev, Covington and Usman more central to the discussion than a familiar name selected mainly for attention.

Chimaev and Usman bring different histories

A Makhachev-Chimaev meeting has been difficult to picture as a UFC fight. The chance of that matchup took a hit when Chimaev had to leave the welterweight division because of weight struggles. A grappling contest outside the Octagon could offer a different setting for the pairing, but there’s no indication in Magomedov’s remarks that it’s being arranged.

Usman, meanwhile, was already a matchup Makhachev wanted to pursue. In 2025, before Makhachev was booked to defend his UFC welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry, the Dagestani pushed for a clash with Usman. Magomedov’s latest comments bring the former champion back into view, this time as a potential grappling opponent.

Usman has yet to compete away from the UFC in Real American Freestyle (RAF) or organizations such as Hype FC, according to the source. That gives a possible meeting a different setup from bouts involving athletes already active on those circuits. The source doesn’t indicate whether Usman would consider it.

Covington’s recent activity sharpens the contrast

Covington has taken a more active route outside UFC competition. After retiring from UFC competition, he became RAF’s cruiserweight crossover champion. Earlier this week, however, he tapped out in 37 seconds against Raul Rosas Jr. in a late-notice submission-only match at a Hype FC event in Rome, Italy.

That result adds an immediate point of reference for a possible Makhachev matchup, but it doesn’t settle how a contest between them would unfold. A short submission-only bout is one result, against one opponent, under its own conditions. Magomedov’s list signals interest in a credible challenge; it doesn’t make Covington an easy assignment for Makhachev or explain which rules either fighter might accept.

Other UFC names have already used opportunities to wrestle or compete in submission-only formats between Octagon appearances. Chimaev and Arman Tsarukyan have competed in Real American Freestyle, while Tsarukyan has also appeared under other banners in submission-only bouts. Their activity offers a model for how a top fighter might stay in competition outside the UFC, though it doesn’t show that Makhachev has chosen the same path.

That distinction matters as questions continue around Makhachev’s delayed UFC return in 2027. Dana White has alleged that Makhachev verbally agreed to defend his belt against Carlos Prates at UFC 336 next January, then changed his mind. Magomedov’s grappling comments provide a possible alternative for competition, but they don’t resolve the uncertainty over the champion’s next UFC appearance.

For now, the most concrete takeaway is the type of opponent Makhachev’s manager says would be worth facing: someone capable of matching him in wrestling. Chimaev, Covington and Usman each fit that description in Magomedov’s view, while Makhachev’s own interest remains unconfirmed. Whether any of those names becomes a real matchup will determine if this stays an idea or gives the champion another competitive stage.