‘He’s huge’ – Anthony Joshua urged by UFC champion to make MMA transition

Islam Makhachev believes Anthony Joshua would be a great MMA fighter.

The UFC welterweight champion has said Joshua would only need to improve his wrestling to have success in the cage.

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Joshua, who is currently recovering physically and mentally from a tragic car crash that killed two of his best friends in December, spent time with Makhachev this month, and the pair sparked up a bond.

‘AJ’ was in Dubai for the PFL’s first show of 2026 and was recorded backstage with members of Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s entourage before watching the Russian’s cousin defend his lightweight title.

A brief chat with UFC pound-for-pound (P4P) king Makhachev went viral, as Joshua told the champion how much he enjoys his famous saying, ‘Send him to Dagestan for two-three years and forget.’

Makhachev has become something of a fan favourite in the UFC due to his dominance and attitude toward hard work, which stems from his Dagestani roots.

It’s clearly something former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua took a liking to.

“He showed me and said, ‘I want to make T-shirts,'” Makhachev told Arena Fight TV, speaking about his interaction with the British boxer.

“I told him, ‘OK, I’ll give you a product for you to make, and you have to also come to Dagestan to improve your wrestling.’

“This guy is huge with very good striking — he’s one of the best boxers in the world.

“If this big guy improved his wrestling, can you imagine how good he’d be in MMA?”

Crossover chaos

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While a switch to MMA is unlikely, stranger things have happened in the combat sports world, as highlighted by Joshua’s last fight with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

Love him or hate him, Paul is one of the biggest names in the sport right now.

WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has even previously stated that he is serious about facing Paul in an MMA bout.

Usyk faced off with Paul in the ring after his win over Daniel Dubois last year and insists he’ll be ready for the American in the cage once he finishes his legendary boxing career.

Joshua, meanwhile, will be entirely focused on whether he can get back into the ring or not.

The 36-year-old’s promoter Eddie Hearn said this month there are no guarantees over him fighting again, although he still expects him to make a return.

What’s next for Makhachev?

As for Makhachev, he has teased his next fight coming at the UFC’s historic White House card this summer.

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The Russian last fought at UFC 322 in November, where he became a two-division champion by dominating Jack Della Maddalena over five rounds.

Makhachev previously ruled the lightweight division, but moved up a weight class after submitting Renato Moicano at UFC 311.

“I’m starting to enjoy my training at welterweight,” the 34-year-old added.

“Cutting the weight, fight week, it’s no problem for me. If somebody wants it, let’s do it.

“I’ve told [the UFC] I’ll be ready soon. If it’s the White House, of course, I want to be at the White House.

“I want to be a part of history. I already make good money, which is enough for my family and now I have everything.

“Now, I’m ready, training every day, still hungry, still want to be champion.”

As the No. 2-ranked UFC welterweight, Ian Machado Garry is one of the frontrunners to face Makhachev next.

However, large proportions of the MMA world would love to see Makhachev face current UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria in what many have labelled a super-fight for the ages.