ANTHONY JOSHUA offered a quick response to a training offer from UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.
AJ met mixed martial arts’ pound-for-pound king backstage at PFL Dubai last Saturday.
Anthony Joshua met UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev backstage at PFL Dubai last weekendCredit: PFL MMA
Makhachev offered AJ the chance to train with him in his native DagestanCredit: PFL MMA
The Watford warrior was given backstage access to meet main eventer Usman Nurmagomedov, whom he’d previously met during his time in the Emirate.
, 36, had a brief conversation with Makhachev, saying: “Let me show you something.”
A perplexed Makhachev replied “My shirt.”
The Russian then invited AJ to train with him in his native Dagestan, saying: “You have to come bro [to Dagestan], not just t-shirt.”
Joshua accepted the offer, responding with a reference to Makhachev’s viral “two-three years and Dagestan and forget” meme.
He replied: “Maybe for two-three weeks, not years.”
Hours after Nurmagomedov retained his lightweight title with a third-round submission of Alfie Davis, Joshua posted a snap of himself with icon and a video of his chat with Makhachev to his Instagram.
His accompanying caption read: “No hype, just real. @Khabib_Nurmagomedov @Islam_Makhachev.”
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And Makhachev immediately went to the comments section to continue his bid to get AJ to transition to .
He wrote: “2-3 years improve wrestling and become MMA fighter.”
Joshua’s outing to PFL Dubai was his first appearance at a combat sports event since the .
Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami tragically lost their lives in a collision on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Nigeria last December.
AJ also met UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov backstage at the cardCredit: PFL MMA
Joshua escaped the vehicle with minor injuries having switched seats before the crash.
The horrific ordeal has cast serious doubts over a ring return for the former two-time heavyweight champion.
AJ has yet to speak about his fighting future.
But he’s and that he wants to honour his fallen friends.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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