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.

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Anthony Joshua met UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev backstage at PFL Dubai last weekendCredit: PFL MMA
 

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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.

Joshua, 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.”

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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 UFC icon Khabib 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 MMA.

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 fatal car crash which killed two of his friends and team members.

Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami tragically lost their lives in a collision on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Nigeria last December.

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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 hinted that he still has business to carry out and that he wants to honour his fallen friends.
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