Islam Makhachev said he'd 'smash' Conor McGregor even though he's 'drunk all days'

• Islam Makhachev is open to fighting Conor McGregor.
• They have a rivalry because of Makhachev's association with McGregor nemesis Khabib Nurmagomedov.

LAS VEGAS — Dominant lightweight grappler Islam Makhachev is open to competing against Conor McGregor if the former UFC two-weight champion is serious about fighting him.

"Let's go, let's do it, why not," he told ESPN on Monday.

Because of Makhachev's association with friend, teammate, and trainer Khabib Nurmagomedov, there is a built-in rivalry with the Irishman.

Nurmagomedov dominated McGregor at the UFC 229 event in 2018. The Dagestan wrestler dropped McGregor in the second round before submitting him in the fourth with a tight neck crank.

Rather than celebrate the win, Nurmagomedov jumped out of the Octagon and nearly incited a riot when he seemingly charged at McGregor's friend Dillon Danis.

The build-up in the months prior was filled with controversy as Nurmagomedov threatened and slapped one of McGregor's friends Artem Lobov.

In apparent retaliation, McGregor flew from Europe to the US to confront Nurmagomedov, whom he found on a bus at a parking lot in New York. McGregor grabbed a dolly and threw it through a window, shattering glass, and injuring athletes on board. He was arrested the next day.

Long after the fight, Nurmagomedov and McGregor continued to argue on social media.

With Nurmagomedov's retirement in 2020, Makhachev seems happy to continue the rivalry, yet said McGregor may have difficulty making weight for a fight because, he claims, the fighter drinks too much.

"It's gonna be hard for him to make 155 because he drunk all days, and lot of people are gonna smash him in this situation," Makhachev said, insinuating a speculated title fight against Charles Oliveira is unlikely as McGregor may be a liability.

"He just gonna fight Nate Diaz or some old people for make some money, and that's it. He's never gonna be champion. He's never gonna compete this level."

Nurmagomedov has been lobbying for Makhachev to get the next title shot, after Justin Gaethje's upcoming attempt at taking the crown at UFC 274.

But the UFC boss Dana White recently said Makhachev must first fight Beneil Dariush for the No.1 contender spot.

Should Makhachev win, like he has in all his pro MMA fights to date, then he may well have a choice between gunning for the title, or taking on McGregor.

It would be a "long night" for McGregor, if he did fight Makhachev, he said.

"When he fought Khabib, he was in good shape, not drunk too much, but now he has to retire.

"This guy has money, everything, but if he wants to come back — let's do it. I will be happy to smash him."