Sep 7, 2019; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) against Davi Ramos (not pictured) during UFC 242 at The Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

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Umar Nurmagomedov Drops Bombshell About Hunter Campbell’s Surprise Visit To Islam Makhachev In Dagestan

Umar Nurmagomedov revealed the real reason why Hunter Campbell visited Islam Makhachev in Dagestan!

Sep 7, 2019; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) against Davi Ramos (not pictured) during UFC 242 at The Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

When Hunter Campbell, the promotion’s chief business officer, takes a personal trip halfway around the world to meet a fighter, fans know something major is brewing. Campbell doesn’t exactly hop on flights to remote locations for casual conversations over tea. His recent visit to Dagestan raised eyebrows across the MMA world, especially after Islam Makhachev’s dominant submission victory over Renato Moicano at UFC 311. Most fans assumed Campbell was there to negotiate the superfight everyone wanted to see between Makhachev and newly promoted lightweight contender Ilia Topuria.

But sometimes the obvious answer isn’t the right one. When executives like Campbell make personal visits to fighters, they’re usually cooking up something that goes far beyond what meets the eye. Makhachev has been sitting pretty at the top of the lightweight division with four successful title defenses under his belt, making him one of the most dominant champions in recent memory. Meanwhile, Topuria had just vacated his featherweight title to chase two-division glory, setting up what seemed like the perfect collision course between two unstoppable forces. Now, his teammate and friend, Umar Nurmagomedov just dropped a truth bomb that changes everything fans thought they knew about that meeting.

Why Did Hunter Campbell Visit Dagestan?

During a recent interview with Adam Zubayraev, Nurmagomedov revealed that Campbell wasn’t there to set up the Makhachev vs Topuria superfight at all. Instead, the UFC executive had a completely different agenda that caught everyone off guard. Campbell actually wanted Islam to move up to welterweight and vacate his lightweight title entirely. The reason was that Topuria could become the new 155-pound champion without having to fight the division’s most dangerous man.

“He [Campbell] came to see Islam, and they wanted Islam to move up. They want to make Topuria the champ at 155. They believe he can really sell fights. Islam doesn’t want to give up his belt. He wants to fight at 155 too…Islam can take the 170 title, then return to 155 and hold both belts.”

Umar Nurmagomedov reveals that Hunter Campbell flew to Dagestan to convince Islam Makhachev to move up to 170 lbs and vacate the 155 lbs UFC title so that Ilia Topuria could become champion.

He says that a move back down to lightweight is still in the books for Makhachev👀 pic.twitter.com/hoLw6zKQl0
— MMA On Point (@OnPointMMA) June 15, 2025

This revelation makes perfect business sense when fans think about it from the UFC’s perspective. Topuria has become a legitimate star with his violent finishing ability and undefeated record. The Spanish-Georgian fighter brings serious charisma and drawing power that translates directly into pay-per-view buys and ticket sales. Campbell and the UFC brass clearly see dollar signs when they look at Topuria’s potential as a champion. Having him hold the lightweight belt would open up fresh matchmaking possibilities and create new storylines that could generate massive revenue streams for years to come.

Now, it remains to be seen if Islam Makhachev can take the belt at 170 lbs and then come back to challenge whoever holds the belt at 155.

(Image Credit: Per Haljestam – Imagn Images)

Hunter Campbell

Islam Makhachev

Umar Nurmagomedov

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!