Islam Makhachev is a better version of Khabib Nurmagomedov, according to MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz

• MMA lightweight Islam Makhachev is a better version of ex-UFC champ Khabib Nurmagomedov.
• That's according to the guy who has represented both fighters, Ali Abdelaziz.

Islam Makhachev is a better version of Khabib Nurmagomedov, according to MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz.

Nurmagomedov retired from ultimate fighting aged 32 in 2020, after submitting Justin Gaethje with a triangle choke at UFC 254 on "Fight Island" in Abu Dhabi.

It brought to an end an unbeaten career in which the Dagestani wrestler won and retained the UFC lightweight title, having beaten Al Iaquinta, Conor McGregor, and Dustin Poirier.

Makhachev, another imposing combatant from Dagestan, is one of the athletes from the region looking to take the baton from Nurmagomedov.

For Abdelaziz, who has represented both fighters, Makhachev is "destined to be a world champion."

He told TMZ Sports: "If I rank him today, the pound-for-pound listing, he's in the top-5."

Makhachev returns to the Octagon on October 30 when he competes in a lightweight match against Dan Hooker at UFC 267 inside the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi.

Hooker is a "great fighter," Abdelaziz said, but the New Zealand striker is only "showing up for a paycheck."

Regardless, Hooker is a rarity in MMA, Abdelaziz said, because not too many ranked fighters want to face Makhachev.

"I think he's going to be one of the greatest fighters ever. I think he's a better version than Khabib. I truly believe he is. He's a future world champion, for sure."

Abdelaziz said Makhachev's abilities are clear to people who watch him train at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, where he challenges bigger, more experienced champions like Luke Rockhold and Dan Cormier.

"I see him in the gym beating DC, beating Luke, beating some of my guys in the top-5 at middleweight, top-5 at welterweight - he is a problem. He's one of the worst guys you can train with.

"Khabib beat you, but let you relax. Islam beat you every second of the round. He does not give time to people to breathe. And he is very dangerous striking, on the ground, wrestling.

"You have not seen the best Islam Makhachev yet. I promise you that."