Conor McGregor's new rival Islam Makhachev has been tipped to be an even bigger UFC star than Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The Russian has made a name for himself as one of the biggest prospects in the UFC, rising to No.5 in the lightweight division.
And naturally due to his close relationship with Nurmagomedov, the rising star has been linked with continuing the team's rivalry with McGregor.
But his manager Ali Abdelaziz has tipped the 30-year-old to create an even bigger legacy in the sport than his long-time friend.
“Islam Makhachev, there's not too many people jumping to fight him," Abdelaziz told TMZ. “I think he is going to be one of the greatest fighters ever. I think he is a better version than Khabib.
“I truly believe he is. He is not now but he can be and I think he's a future world champion for sure."
Makhachev's next test comes against Dan Hooker at UFC 267 later this month, who jumped at the opportunity to take on the Russian as a late-replacement.
The top five contender was set to face Rafael Dos Anjos before he withdrew requiring surgery on a knee injury.
But he has also been linked with a long-term plan of stepping into the cage with McGregor, who is currently out of action after suffering a broken leg injury against Dustin Poirier.
And his manager Abdelaziz believes that the Irishman would be more interested in a prison sentence than duelling with Makhachev.
"At the end of the day, all these guys are going to fight each other," he told MMA Junkie. "If Justin Gaethje wins, he's gonna fight for the title, if Conor McGregor wants to get one more a**-whooping from the Dagestani mafia, we can give it to him, you know.
"Listen, at the the end of the day he's still talking, he still insulted people, assaulted people... but listen, being locked in jail or being locked with Islam Makhachev? I think he would choose jail."
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McGregor has fallen below Makhachev in the UFC rankings, but clings on to his status as a top ten lightweight sitting in ninth position.
But the Irishman will look to regain his status, with two fights remaining on his current deal with the organisation.
Despite the potential of having a new rival, McGregor's online feud with Nurmagomedov has continued.
And although the former undefeated champion will not be coming out of retirement, he has slammed McGregor's deleted tweets in recent weeks.
But former UFC middleweight Michael Bisping has explained the reasoning behind the Irish star's social media activity.
He told The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast: “Fighters, we have to have this self-belief in ourselves that borders on the delusional. I guess I had that. I know for a fact when I was fighting.
“People used to think I was delusional. But you have to have that. You have to have that belief in yourself. If you don’t have that then you’re probably not going to go very far as a fighter.”
“For [Conor], right now, that’s the best way he can deal with losing these fights. I’m not making excuses for him, far from it, because I was at the receiving end of some of his b******* recently as well."
