Tag: Islam Makhachev

Ilia Topuria Eyes Islam Makhachev Fight, vows to make him “Suffer” in Dream Title Showdown

Ilia Topuria vs Islam MakhachevThe UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has set his aim on the lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev. At UFC 308,…

Ilia Topuria vs Islam Makhachev

The UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has set his aim on the lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev. At UFC 308, ‘El Matador’ will look to defend his throne against the former champion Max Holloway, and then Topuria is looking to become a two-division king.

Ilia Topuria

The Georgian-Spanish will enter his UFC 308 title fight with an undefeated professional record on October 26. Ilia Topuria captured the featherweight title when he knocked out pound-for-pound king Alexander Volkanovski earlier this year. Now, he faces a stiff test against the former champion ‘Blessed’ Max Holloway this weekend.

Ilia Topuria eyes biggest fight in history against Conor McGregor in UFC Spain debut
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports

With a victory at UFC 308, Ilia Topuria will look to go up in weight to challenge the lightweight world champion Islam Makhachev, who is a student of all-time great Khabib Nurmagomedov. The Dagestani Makhachev has impressive wins over fighters such as Dustin Poirier, Alexander Volkanovski, and Charles Oliveira, among others. He is an aggressive fighter with a smother top game on the ground.

In an interview, Ilia Topuria explained how he sees the match against the lightweight king. He said:

“A style that Islam has never ever faced in his life, and will never face unless he faces me…So that is why I say that right now, there is no one who can overshadow me.

“I know what bothers them, what doesn’t bother them. So, for me, even if it seems like a very difficult fight, I would make Islam suffer a lot. Too much…I’m a guy who has impeccable physical preparation. In the fifth round, I am the same as in the first and I represent a threat at any second of the fight.“

But before he can challenge for the lightweight throne, he has a major challenge ahead of him as he soon meets Max Holloway. ‘Blessed’ a an aggressive volume striker who looks to bury his opponents under a barrage of punches. This match is set to headline in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

Kamaru Usman Calls Alex Pereira ‘Pound-For-Pound King’ Over Islam Makhachev

Alex Pereira defended his UFC light heavyweight belt for the third time in 2024 at UFC 307. He stopped Khalil Rountree via TKO in the fourth, further skyrocketing his popularity. Pereira’s exciting fighting style and consistency are second to none in the UFC at the moment. With six title fight wins already, he’s solidified his […]

Continue Reading Kamaru Usman Calls Alex Pereira ‘Pound-For-Pound King’ Over Islam Makhachev at MMA News.

Alex Pereira defended his UFC light heavyweight belt for the third time in 2024 at UFC 307. He stopped Khalil Rountree via TKO in the fourth, further skyrocketing his popularity.

Pereira’s exciting fighting style and consistency are second to none in the UFC at the moment. With six title fight wins already, he’s solidified his legacy and fans now expect to see him in the heavyweight division or take on Magomed Ankalaev.

Kamaru Usman has all the praise in the world for “Poatan” after his UFC 307 victory. So much so, that he called the UFC light heavyweight kingpin the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world over Islam Makhachev.

Kamaru Usman Explains Why Alex Pereira Is His Pound-For-Pound Best Fighter Despite Islam Makhachev Having More Tools

On the latest episode of the Pound 4 Pound With Kamaru & Henry podcast on YouTube, Usman and Henry Cejudo debated who deserves to be the P4P best fighter after UFC 307. While “Triple C” still gave the title to Makhachev, Usman had a new opinion after “Poatan” dismantled Rountree’s game plan masterfully.

According to the former UFC welterweight champion, fighters in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions should be judged differently. At anything over 200 pounds, having a strong ground game is a challenge because of the strength and energy required.

“I have to admit when, and this is a part of being a man, you have to admit when you feel like you’ve made an error. And in the revelation lately, what I’ve come to is, I realized I’ve been judging Alex Pereira based on what I would be judged at. There’s a lot more men that weigh, walk around on this earth close to 170 to 185 pounds.”

So, Usman no longer holds Pereira accountable for not showcasing his grappling because it is simply not prevalent enough in his weight division. He’s been decimating the top light heavyweight and middleweight contenders with ease, which is enough for “The Nigerian Nightmare” to call him the P4P best UFC fighter.

Usman broke down the UFC 307 main event and appreciated how Pereira looked calm throughout the fight. Against a dangerous southpaw like Rountree, he decided to rely on his jab instead of the left hook that usually wins him matches.

“I think he is pound-for-pound king because of the way he’s able to fight. Not the way he’s able to fight but the way he’s able to make his opponents fight and the way he’s able to dispose of his opponents. I love Islam and his abilities, I think Islam of course has more tools in the shed but for what you have to work with, Alex Pereira I believe he’s the pound-for-pound.”

The UFC welterweight acknowledged that fighters with relentless wrestling like Merab Dvalishvili have been succeeding in the UFC lately. However, he also pointed out that such a fighting style is usually present in lower weight classes, and even Magomed Ankalaev wouldn’t replicate Dvalishvili’s style at light heavyweight.

“I can’t be biased to the standard that I’m held to. The standard that Islam is held to because there’s a lot more men that weigh Islam’s size and my size than they do Alex Pereira’s size. So, with what Alex Pereira has to work with, he’s disposing of these guys that way so I have to give that to him.”

Continue Reading Kamaru Usman Calls Alex Pereira ‘Pound-For-Pound King’ Over Islam Makhachev at MMA News.

Khabib Nurmagomedov Reveals Date For Islam Makhachev’s Next UFC Title Defense

Khabib Nurmagomedov has seemingly confirmed when reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev will return to action. Makhachev has had just one outing in 2024 — a hard-fought submission win over Dustin Poirier at the Newark-held UFC 302 event to record his second defense of the 155-pound title. For the third straight year, the Russian was […]

Continue Reading Khabib Nurmagomedov Reveals Date For Islam Makhachev’s Next UFC Title Defense at MMA News.

Khabib Nurmagomedov has seemingly confirmed when reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev will return to action.

Makhachev has had just one outing in 2024 — a hard-fought submission win over Dustin Poirier at the Newark-held UFC 302 event to record his second defense of the 155-pound title.

For the third straight year, the Russian was then being lined up to headline the promotion’s annual October pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi. But an injury that required surgery scuppered those plans and ruled Makhachev out for the remainder of 2024.

Talk quickly arose of a possible interim title fight for top contender Arman Tsarukyan. But after UFC CEO Dana White was quick to dismiss that notion and insist plans were coming together for the champ’s return, the next lightweight title fight may have now had its date leaked…

Khabib Leaks January UFC Title Defense For Makhachev

During a recent interview (via Ushatayka), Khabib provided an update on Makhachev’s return after injury stalled plans for a second assignment in 2024.

While he stayed short of confirming a location or opponent, “The Eagle” did reveal that his protégé has accepted a bout offer from the UFC for an event in January 2025, likely UFC 311.

“UFC offered us a fight already, in January. We accepted it,” Nurmagomedov said. “UFC will announce very soon where it will take place and who will be Islam’s opponent. I will not make an announcement myself, but I can say that we are focused on January.”

Although his name wasn’t mentioned, there’s little doubt about Tsarukyan’s status as next in line for a shot at title glory following his decision win over former champ Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 this past April.

Continue Reading Khabib Nurmagomedov Reveals Date For Islam Makhachev’s Next UFC Title Defense at MMA News.

The ‘Bad Guy’ Wants to See Islam Makhachev Make a Classic WWE-Style Heel Turn

The 'Bad Guy' Wants to See Islam Makhachev Make a Classic WWE-Style Heel TurnChael Sonnen wants to see Islam Makhachev embrace his natural role as a heel. During a recent episode of…

The 'Bad Guy' Wants to See Islam Makhachev Make a Classic WWE-Style Heel Turn

Chael Sonnen wants to see Islam Makhachev embrace his natural role as a heel.

During a recent episode of his ESPN show Good Guy/Bad Guy with former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier, ‘The American Gangster’ spoke about the promotion’s recent struggles in finding the next big breakout star, much of it being blamed on the lack of lengthy title reigns by today’s talent.

Makhachev finds himself in a similar boat, having just completed his third defense of the lightweight title in June via a fifth-round submission victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. Before that, the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ won back-to-back bouts against former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski.

Islam Makhachev

Touting Jon Jones and Alex Pereira as the two biggest names in the game right now, Sonnen believes Makhachev could unseat them both and take his spot as the promotion’s top draw by making a classic WWE-style heel turn.

“Okay, that guy is so charismatic, and he is so secretly funny,” Sonnen said. “If he was to do a heel turn, I mean, come on, he said one of the great heel lines ever. He said a whole bunch of professors should be taking their black belts back from guys. Like that angle and that is blasphemy in this sport and nobody even knows got it. It was like this G-rated line, he didn’t use profanity, he didn’t yell. When he said it, he said it nicely” (h/t MMA News).

Sonnen certainly knows a thing or two about using his ability to talk as a way to sell himself. Going into his Hall of Fame clash with Anderson Silva at UFC 117, the West Linn, Oregon native drew in fight fans with his impeccable promo skills that saw him trash talk ‘The Spider’ in a way that no fighter had done before.

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Daniel Cormier wants to write material for Islam makhachev

Offering his take on the subject, Cormier appeared to agree with Sonnen, even suggesting that the two start writing material for Makhachev to help him go from a mild-mannered Dagestani scrapper to a Ric Flair-esque larger-than-life character on MMA’s biggest stage.

“I think that’s the move for Islam,” Cormier concurred. “He needs to get you and I to write him promos. We should write him promos. We write promos telling how much better he is than everyone. I would make him tell everybody that they don’t deserve to be in there with him and he’s just going to lord over this division until he decides to retire.”

Originally hoping to defend his title in Abu Dhabi this fall, Makhachev will be forced to sit out the remainder of the year due to an injury. When he is ready for a return, top-ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan will likely be the one waiting for him inside the Octagon.

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Daniel Cormier Believes Only Two Current UFC Champs Can Sell Pay-Per-Views: ‘Void Of That Big Star?’

A lot has changed in the last couple of years for the UFC. The roster features many new exciting talents, but dominant champs like Israel Adesanya, Alexander Volkanovski, and Kamaru Usman also lost their belts. In its different eras, the UFC has benefited heavily from megastars like Chuck Liddell, Conor McGregor, and Ronda Rousey. However, […]

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Believes Only Two Current UFC Champs Can Sell Pay-Per-Views: ‘Void Of That Big Star?’ at MMA News.

A lot has changed in the last couple of years for the UFC. The roster features many new exciting talents, but dominant champs like Israel Adesanya, Alexander Volkanovski, and Kamaru Usman also lost their belts.

In its different eras, the UFC has benefited heavily from megastars like Chuck Liddell, Conor McGregor, and Ronda Rousey. However, it looks like the company now wants its brand to reign supreme. If people trust the UFC to be the premier MMA organization in the world, they won’t evaluate the quality of the card based on the stars it has.

Having said that, popular fighters are still a boon, if not a necessity, for the UFC. According to Daniel Cormier, the promotion currently lacks champions that can sell pay-per-views like their predecessors…

Daniel Cormier Explains Why Islam Makhachev, Belal Muhammad, Ilia Topuria, Merab Dvalishvili, And Other UFC Champs Aren’t Stars Yet

On the latest episode of Good Guy / Bad Guy on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel, Cormier and Sonnen discussed the current UFC champs. According to the former UFC heavyweight kingpin, only Jon Jones and Alex Pereira are proven draws for the UFC.

“Is there a void of that big star? Because right now, it feels like only Jon Jones and Pereira, Pereira and Jon Jones might be the only two Champions right now that are completely moving the needle.”

All the other champs in the promotion have either just reached the top or don’t have the most exciting fighting style and mic skills. The iconic duo also talked about how MMA has evolved drastically in recent years, making it unlikely for new champions to beat title defense records set by Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Demetrious Johnson, and other greats.

“Jon Jones right now is a proven draw. He will sell pay-per-views. Alex Pereira, under right circumstances, will sell pay-per-views. But then when I list these other names to you, Chael, Zhang Weili, the 25 pound champion is the Brazilian, Pantoja, Merab Dvalishvili, Ilia Topuria, Islam Makhachev, Belal Muhammad. Let’s keep going.”

DC backed his claims by mentioning the not-so-great numbers generated by Makhachev vs. Poirier at UFC 302. He also revealed that Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya did decent, but the number was much lower than what “The Last Stylebender” was bringing in at his peak.

“The problem is the game has gotten so hard now. Anderson had what? 11 title defenses. Jones had like 13. Who’s doing that anymore?”

“Poatan” is 37 and “Bones” might consider retirement after fighting Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. Cormier believes that the UFC has yet to find proper replacements for its biggest stars at the moment which could be detrimental.

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Believes Only Two Current UFC Champs Can Sell Pay-Per-Views: ‘Void Of That Big Star?’ at MMA News.

‘If Sean O’Malley Had Won…’ – Jon Anik’s Unique Argument To Defend Jon Jones In Pound-For-Pound Rankings

Jon Jones last fought in the UFC in March 2023, when he submitted Ciryl Gane to win the promotion’s heavyweight title. Stipe Miocic was supposed to be his first title defense but a shoulder injury compelled the champion to take time off from training. While Jones has been inactive, Islam Makhachev has defended his UFC […]

Continue Reading ‘If Sean O’Malley Had Won…’ – Jon Anik’s Unique Argument To Defend Jon Jones In Pound-For-Pound Rankings at MMA News.

Jon Jones last fought in the UFC in March 2023, when he submitted Ciryl Gane to win the promotion’s heavyweight title. Stipe Miocic was supposed to be his first title defense but a shoulder injury compelled the champion to take time off from training.

While Jones has been inactive, Islam Makhachev has defended his UFC lightweight title twice and sits comfortably at the top of the company’s pound-for-pound rankings. The community is divided on the matter though, especially after Dana White bluntly dismissed the rankings and called Jones the undisputed pound-for-pound best fighter.

Although Jon Anik believes Makhachev to be the P4P best, he might not be in favor of Jones being excluded from the rankings because of inactivity…

Jon Anik Imagines How Sean O’Malley’s Pound-For-Pound Rank Would’ve Changed Due To Injury Like Jon Jones

Anik recently appeared on the official MMAFightingonSBN YouTube channel to discuss all things UFC. When asked for his two cents on the endless P4P debate, the UFC commentator made a clear distinction between Jones being the greatest fighter of all time and Makhachev being the best skill-to-skill fighter in the world right now.

“jon Jones is the greatest mixed martial arts athlete for me. Pound-for-pound in the world, today, I think it’s pretty consensus that Islam Makhachev is the guy. But yeah, when Jonny Jones is in an active competition cycle and given body of work, yeah, he’s the guy. But right now, Islam for me, is you know, skill-for-skill, and given activity, number one.”

Anik was then informed about MMA Fighting’s criteria for removing fighters who haven’t competed in over 18 months from the P4P list. As a result, Jones is not even in their top 20 men’s pound-for-pound fighters, let alone fighting for the top spots.

This is when one of UFC’s most familiar play-by-play voices brought up Sean O’Malley, who’ll be out of action because of requiring hip surgery. While not targeting MMA Fighting specifically, he suggested that it would’ve been interesting how MMA media would’ve handled O’Malley’s pound-for-pound rank had he beaten Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 and then taken a year or more to recover from the hip injury as the active champ.

Anik also pointed out that the UFC bantamweight division is stacked with talented contenders, which would’ve made O’Malley’s case even more intriguing.

“It really would’ve been interesting if Sean O’Malley had won and had to get his hip prepared, you know. And you don’t see him for a year, you know, because there’s so many 35ers but there’s a new world order and it’s Merab Dvalishvili. You know, and, exciting times buddy.”

Continue Reading ‘If Sean O’Malley Had Won…’ – Jon Anik’s Unique Argument To Defend Jon Jones In Pound-For-Pound Rankings at MMA News.