Islam Makhachev confirms Conor McGregor fight talks and reveals Dana White's immediate reaction

Islam Makhachev has delivered an update on his future in MMA, confirming that talks have been held over a potential boxing fight with Conor McGregor

On Saturday, Makhachev will attempt to defend his welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry in a mouth-watering showdown at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Widely regarded as one of the best MMA fighters of all time, having won 17 of his 18 fights in the promotion since making his UFC debut in 2015, the Russian is on the verge of breaking a long-standing feat.

A victory over Machado Garry at the Xfinity Mobile Arena will see him register his 16th successive UFC win, eclipsing Anderson Silva's record that has stood for 13 years.

Makhachev is fuelled by the chance to create more history this weekend and further cement his name into UFC folklore. However, it appears the former lightweight champion is already looking ahead to life beyond MMA.

The 34-year-old accepts that he doesn't have long left and wants to compete as often as possible before he calls time on an illustrious career.

"I'm not a young guy. Now it's better for me to fight every three to four months," Makhachev told UFC Hall of Famer Demetrious Johnson.

"I understand I'm not 28 years old; I'm 34 right now. And I don't have much time.

"Sometimes it's not going like you want in the UFC. You want to fight after three or four months, but it's not according to your wish."

UFC president Dana White already admitted that Makhachev is "on the right path" to being regarded as the greatest fighter in UFC history, and defending his title this weekend will put him a step closer to earning that tag.

Islam Makhachev confirms Conor McGregor boxing fight talks

While Makhachev is focused on defending his belt against Machado Garry, the UFC veteran ultimately dreams of fighting MMA legend Conor McGregor in a mega-money boxing match.

Makhachev believes a fight against McGregor is a real possibility, detailing a phone call he had with Zuffa Boxing co-founder Turki Alalshikh and the Irishman.

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"Our fight is still possible,” Makhachev told UFC Eurasia. “I have a new story to tell with him.

“I went to a boxing event, and I was with Turki Alalshikh. He called Conor and asked if he wanted to box with me.

“Yes, I am down. I told him to ask Dana White, who was near us. He laughed about it. We couldn’t really talk; he started showing some body language.

“I am not a high-level boxer, but I could handle myself with other [MMA] fighters on the feet.”

White, the co-founder of Zuffa, has admitted that he doesn't want MMA fighters competing under the Zuffa Boxing banner, which could create a stumbling block in negotiations.

That being said, McGregor - who is recovering from the knee injury he suffered against Max Holloway at UFC 329 last month - would surely be a huge favourite against the Russian.

McGregor showcased his boxing credentials in 2017 when he lasted 10 rounds in a showdown with Floyd Mayweather, with many predicting him to make light work of Makhachev if the fight happens.