Islam Makhachev is No. 1 in the UFC’s official pound for pound rankings, but not in Dana White’s heart. Here’s what the Mak had to say about that at the UFC 302 presser.
Islam Makhachev isn’t too concerned about UFC CEO Dana White’s comments denying he’s the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in the world. But he’s still looking for the biggest fights possible that will elevate him to that level.
Makhachev put on a strong performance against a very game Dustin Poirier at UFC 302, bringing the fight to “Diamond” on the feet and submitting him halfway through the fifth round (highlights here). It wasn’t pure domination like we’re used to from his friend and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, but it was a reminder that Islam will be very hard to dethrone at 155 pounds.
But is he P4P No. 1 in the UFC right now? Not according to White, who vehemently declared Jon Jones to be over Makhachev, no questions asked. That’s despite Makhachev holding the No.1 position in the official UFC rankings since last year.
When it was the Dagestani fighter’s turn to speak at the UFC 302 post-fight press conference, he shrugged off White’s statements.
“I don’t know, maybe it’s his opinion,” he said. “But I think I saved this card today, because all these fights boring, and all the arena almost sleep. And we show with Dustin [a] great performance. Dana gave me two bonuses. Before I remember when I had first contract, I [was] happy when I got bonuses. But now it’s okay.”
Makhachev’s mission now is to get a second belt at welterweight.
“Who don’t want to be double champion?” he said when asked about his future. “This is history, how many double champs we have? This is a dream for all fighters to get second belt. This is my dream, and I want to be in the history so people know me as double champ. If I have chance, small chance, I will get [it], and it’s [this] thing that makes me wake up in the every morning and train very hard.”
The win over Poirier marks Makhachev’s third successful lightweight title defense. No one has defended that belt four times, but Islam seemed uninterested in stepping out ahead of the pack at 155 in that way.
Congrats to Islam! But don’t try to run away to another division. You’ve only defended your title once against a real lightweight, and I’m next in line
— Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@ArmanUfc) June 2, 2024
“I don’t follow the records, beat some record or something like this,” he said. “If you want great legacy, you have to get second belt. It’s my opinion.”
A second belt is definitely flashier on the resume, but right now it looks like the UFC is going to have Makhachev defend the lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan next.
“I’m ready,” Islam said regarding that fight. “Dana have my number. Just call me and put some new challenge. It not make sense [why] we’d have rematch, but if Dana wants it, let’s do it. No problem.”
The only ask Makhachev has is to compete in New York City instead of Abu Dhabi.
“Honestly, it’s my dream fighting Madison Square Garden,” he explained. “And now I think the US fans like me because we show good fight tonight. If they give me a chance to come back in Madison Square Garden, this is my dream, fight in this arena.”
Unfortunately for Makhachev, the UFC’s Madison Square Garden card in November is already earmarked for the Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic heavyweight title fight. So once again Jones is messing Islam’s biz up, making Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan much more likely for October in Abu Dhabi.