Colby Covington eyes dream title fight with Islam Makhachev after UFC 296 return: ‘It’s the Rocky IV theme’

Colby Covington eyes title fight with Islam Makhachev after UFC 296 it's the Rocky IV themeAhead of his Octagon return at UFC 296 next month, incoming welterweight title challenger, Colby Covington has noted his…

Colby Covington eyes title fight with Islam Makhachev after UFC 296 it's the Rocky IV theme

Ahead of his Octagon return at UFC 296 next month, incoming welterweight title challenger, Colby Covington has noted his interest in a title fight showdown with current lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev in the future – describing the superfight as his most sought-after pairing. 

Covington, the current number three ranked welterweight contender and former inteirm division champion, is slated to headline UFC 296 next month in the final pay-per-view event of the year, taking on undisputed champion and long-time rival, Leon Edwards in Las Vegas.

As for Makhachev, the Russian force and current pound-for-pound number one fighter, headlined UFC 294 back in October against featherweight gold holder, Alexander Volkanovski, turning in a spectacular first round high-kick knockout win over the New South Wales native.

Colby Covington eyes Islam Makhachev superfight

And ahead of his comeback fight, Covington, who has been earmarked as a potential future foe by Makhachev who himself is weighing up a welterweight division leap, would be welcomed by the Clovis native, who described the pound-for-pound ace as his dream fight.

“Number one for sure, is Islam Makhachev,” Colby Covington told UFC.com. “That’s the money fight. That needs to be settled. USA vs. Russia. It’s the Rocky IV theme line. Rocky vs. Drago. Everybody is talking like he’s pound-for-pound this, he’s pound-for-pound that. Against me, he’ll see a real fighter.”

“He needs to stop being a weight bully, cutting all that weight to get the size advantage over people, and he needs to come see America’s champ,” Colby Covington explained. “He needs to come see Donald Trump’s favorite fighter. I’ll see you soon, Islam.” 

In his most recent outing, MMA Masters trainee, Covington landed a dominant unanimous decision win over arch-rival and former training partner, Jorge Masvidal back in March of last year in a long-awaited grudge match between the two. 

Who wins in a future fight: Colby Covington or Islam Makhachev?

Islam Makhachev tipped to fight Charles Oliveira in rematch at UFC Saudi Arabia in March: ‘It makes all the sense in the world’

Islam Makhachev backed to fight Charles Oliveira at UFC Saudi Arabia in March it makes all the sense in the worldUndisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has been backed to make a spectacular return to the Octagon ahead of schedule…

Islam Makhachev backed to fight Charles Oliveira at UFC Saudi Arabia in March it makes all the sense in the world

Undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has been backed to make a spectacular return to the Octagon ahead of schedule at a penned UFC event in Saudi Arabia in March of next year, taking on former-foe, Charles Oliveira in a title rematch, according to close friend and training partner, Daniel Cormier. 

Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion and pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter under the banner of the promotion, most recently headlined UFC 294 back in October in Abu Dhabi, UAE, landing a first round high-kick knockout win over two-time foe, Alexander Volkanovski.

As for Sao Paulo native, Oliveira, the former titleholder was scheduled to fight the Russian at the same event in the Middle East, until a nasty laceration suffered two weeks ahead of the rematch forced his withdrawal from the title clash.

Sidelined since June, Brazilian fan-favorite Oliveira turned in a blistering first round win over incoming UFC Austin headliner, Beneil Dariush, stopping the Iranian with a slew of ground strikes for a TKO win. 

Islam Makhachev backed to fight Charles Oliveira in March

And announcing plans earlier this month to likely compete three times next year, including squeezing in a fight ahead of Ramadan in March, Makhachev has been backed to headline an earmarked UFC Saudi Arabia event by Cormier – in a rematch with Oliveira.

“So, there’s three guys, right?” Daniel Cormier said on DC & RC. “I think it’s a matter of how does Islam (Makhachev) wanna approach this year. He said he wants to fight in the first quarter, January, February, March. March works, Saudi Arabia, there’s a fight card there. It makes all the sense in the world. I think you get Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev number two.”

I think you get Islam vs. Charles, then I think Justin Gaethje – who has told me in our personal lives that he’s going to wait for Islam Makhachev,” Cormier explained. “He’s not gonna fight, he’s gonna wait for his title fight, you get Gaethje. That third fight to me is the one that I’m a kind of a bit torn on because if you’re thinking star power and you’re trying to build Makhahcev as a big star, you stick him in there with a Dustin Poirier.” 

Do you expect to see Islam Makhachev fight Charles Oliveira as soon as March?

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