Tag: Islam Makhachev

UFC Rankings Report: Masvidal Drops, New Top-3 Heavyweight, & More

The UFC rankings have been updated following UFC Vegas 26! Check out all the changes below! Men’s Pound for Pound: No Changes Women’s Pound for Pound: Claudia Gadelha moves up one spot to #14, and Nina Nunes debuts in the rankings at #15. Strawweight: …

The UFC rankings have been updated following UFC Vegas 26! Check out all the changes below! Men’s Pound for Pound: No Changes Women’s Pound for Pound: Claudia Gadelha moves up one spot to #14, and Nina Nunes debuts in the rankings at #15. Strawweight: No Changes Women’s Flyweight: No Changes Women’s Bantamweight: No Changes Women’s […]

Islam Makhachev Believes Michael Chandler Is Undeserving Of Title Shot

The retirement of Khabib Nurmagomedov sent shockwaves through the lightweight division, and after the UFC announced the vacant title fight, Islam Makhachev thought Michael Chandler was undeserving of the title shot. Islam Makhachev understands why Char…

The retirement of Khabib Nurmagomedov sent shockwaves through the lightweight division, and after the UFC announced the vacant title fight, Islam Makhachev thought Michael Chandler was undeserving of the title shot. Islam Makhachev understands why Charles Oliveira was one part of the vacant lightweight title fight. The third-degree black belt has put the work in […]

Islam Makhachev On Justin Gaethje: ‘I’d Love To Fight Him’

Islam MakhachevIslam Makhachev would “love” to be matched up with the former interim champ, Justin Gaethje. Earlier this month Makhachev picked up one of his biggest wins to date. The 29-year-old dominated Drew Dober before securing a third-round submission win at UFC 259. Since that win, Makhachev has been focused on a match-up with the former […]

Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev would “love” to be matched up with the former interim champ, Justin Gaethje.

Earlier this month Makhachev picked up one of his biggest wins to date.

The 29-year-old dominated Drew Dober before securing a third-round submission win at UFC 259.

Since that win, Makhachev has been focused on a match-up with the former lightweight king, Rafael Dos Anjos.

However, the Russian believes ‘RDA’ has cooled on the idea of fighting him.

The pair were previously scheduled to meet on two occasions, but the bout is yet to take place.

“I don’t know why his opinion changed so quickly,” Makhachev told reporters at an Eagle Fighting Championship event. “He won a fight and started acting differently. He was quiet when we had a fight scheduled. He got taken off the card and I asked for a replacement but the UFC said they’d give me a five-round main event then I quietly got on a plane to the U.S. without my team because I wanted that fight then I got sick and he had a fight and after that he started talking differently.”

Ultimately Makhachev thinks Dos Anjos is most likely the man he’ll next face inside the Octagon.

“I don’t know what’s going on with the UFC matchmaking but I think that’s what will end up happening,” Makhachev said. “Most of the top-10 fighters are busy but I’m 90 percent sure they’ll give me a top-10 guy…

“We know that Felder doesn’t want to fight often. He has other things going on with the UFC and isn’t eager to fight anymore. As far as Hooker, I saw that he recently came home. He was quarantined for a long time so I don’t think he’ll want to come back soon. He’ll probably want to rest after getting knocked out, so I think they’ll give me dos Anjos.”

Another possible option is Justin Gaethje who hasn’t fought since being submitted by Makhachev’s teammate and friend Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 in October.

“Yes, it’s possible. Justin and I know each other but it’s not like we’re friends,” Makhachev said. “It’s possible. He’s free right now. Why not? I’d love to fight him.” (Transcribed by MMA Fighting)

Who do you want to see Islam Makhachev fight next?

Rafael dos Anjos Willing To Face Makhachev If Khabib Fights Him Next

Rafael dos Anjos is willing to fight Islam Makhachev but on one very specific and interesting condition. In 2014, Rafael dos Anjos suffered a loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov via a lopsided unanimous decision. Much has happened since this fight occurred. Th…

Rafael dos Anjos is willing to fight Islam Makhachev but on one very specific and interesting condition. In 2014, Rafael dos Anjos suffered a loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov via a lopsided unanimous decision. Much has happened since this fight occurred. The following year, dos Anjos went on to capture the lightweight championship and would become […]

Islam Makhachev Calls For A Fight With Tony Ferguson After UFC 259 Win

Islam Makhachev wants to face Tony Ferguson next following his dominant win over Drew Dober at UFC 259. Makhachev is coming off a huge win at UFC 259. The Russian-born fighter defeated Drew Dober via third-round submission and then took to the mic to c…

Islam Makhachev wants to face Tony Ferguson next following his dominant win over Drew Dober at UFC 259. Makhachev is coming off a huge win at UFC 259. The Russian-born fighter defeated Drew Dober via third-round submission and then took to the mic to call out one of the division’s top five, Tony Ferguson. “I […]

Islam Makhachev Calls For Tony Ferguson ‘Dream Fight’ Following UFC 259 Win

MakhachevIslam Makhachev wants Tony Ferguson next. Makhachev enjoyed a dominant third-round submission win over Drew Dober on the main card of the UFC 259 pay-per-view event on Saturday night. It put him on a seven-fight winning streak as there is no doubt that he deserves a top lightweight contender for his next outing. The Dagestan […]

Makhachev

Islam Makhachev wants Tony Ferguson next.

Makhachev enjoyed a dominant third-round submission win over Drew Dober on the main card of the UFC 259 pay-per-view event on Saturday night.

It put him on a seven-fight winning streak as there is no doubt that he deserves a top lightweight contender for his next outing. The Dagestan native went a step further by earmarking one fighter in particular — Ferguson.

“My dream fight is Tony Ferguson,” Makhachev said after his win. “That’s my dream fight. I just want to make him retire. He talks too much.

“Khabib is retired, now he keeps pressuring him, for what? I’m here, I have a 7-fight win streak, make this happen.”

Ferguson, of course, is on a two-fight losing streak but was previously on a 12-fight winning streak and was slated to fight Nurmagomedov in a dream contest five times only for it to fail to come to fruition all five times.

Perhaps the next best option is to have him face who many believe to be the successor to the now-retired Nurmagomedov in Makhachev.

UFC president Dana White is seemingly a fan of the idea as well.

Do you want to see Ferguson vs. Makhachev next?