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Justin Gaethje picked to stop Islam Makhachev in UFC title fight: ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if he knocked him out’

Justin Gaethje picked to knock out Islam Makhachev in future UFC title fight Tim Welch Continually staking his claim for an undisputed UFC lightweight title fight with Islam Makahchev following the Russian’s dominant victory…

Continually staking his claim for an undisputed UFC lightweight title fight with Islam Makahchev following the Russian’s dominant victory last month in Abu Dhabi, former interim titleholder, Justin Gaethje has been backed to even knock out the defending champion by mixed martial arts head coach, Tim Welch, if he lands the fight.

Gaethje, a former interim lightweight champion under the banner of the UFC, most recently landed the symbolic BMF title back in July in the main event of UFC 291, landing a second round high-kick KO win over fellow former interim champion, Dustin Poirier in the pair’s rematch.

As for Makhachev, the incumbent lightweight champion defended his crown back in October atop UFC 294 in the Middle East, landing a first round high-kick knockout win of his own in a short-notice rematch with undisputed featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski.

Maintaining he would likely sit out for over a year in order to secure a fresh title fight with Makhachev – whom is expected to fight former champion, Charles Oliveira in a rematch next year, Gaethje questioned who else he should fight to earn his title affair.

“Who do I fight?” Justin Gaethje asked. “There’s no one. I did what I had to do. I don’t know what else I need to do.”

“If they [the UFC] want to put (Charles) Oliveira in there, then I fight him (Islam Makhachev) in September,” Justin Gaethje explained. “I have no issues waiting. Again, as I get older, I get to understand from now until the time I’m gonna fight him I’m gonna be building strength. I’m gonna be working on my cardio, I’m gonna be refining my skills. So, I’ll have as much time as they give me and I’ll be that much more ready.”

Justin Gaethje picked to potentially KO Islam Makhachev in title fight

However, as per the above-mentioned, Welch, head coach to undisputed bantamweight champion, Sean O’Malley – Gaethje could actually have the kryptonite to defeat Makhachev, potentially by knockout to boot.

“Everyone thinks Justin Gaethje would get ran through,” Welch said on his podcast with O’Malley. “I don’t think he would, dude – because they talk about Gaethje, when he fought Khabib (Nurmagoemdov), he got there [Abu Dhabi] 10 days before that fight and just everything was wrong.”

“Gaethje’s a different dude – Khabib said he knew that Justin got there [late], and he’s through that time travel multiple ties. He knew that was just gonna ruin him. This Gaethje now, versus Islam in Vegas or something. I wouldn’t be that surprised if Gaethje knocked him out.” (H/T MMA News)

Do you want to see Justin Gaethje challenge Islam Makhachev next year?

Islam Makhachev picked up Volkanovski’s lunch tab following uFC 294 Clash: ‘That was super kind’

BJJ specialist Craig Jones revealed that Islam Makhachev footed the bill for Alexander Volkanovski’s lunch following their UFC 294…

BJJ specialist Craig Jones revealed that Islam Makhachev footed the bill for Alexander Volkanovski’s lunch following their UFC 294 showdown in Abu Dhabi.

Originally scheduled to defend his lightweight title against Charles Oliveira, Islam Makhachev found himself once again matched up with Volkanovski eight months removed from their Fight of the Year contender in February. In that meeting, the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ needed the full 25 minutes to earn a unanimous decision victory over the featherweight champ. This time, he only needed three.

Mere minutes into the opening round, Makhachev launched a perfectly timed head kick that caught Volkanovski on the top of his head, sending him crashing to the canvas. A few follow-up strikes later and it was all said and done.

Joining Volkanovski at UFC 294 was fellow Aussie and IBJJF world champion Craig Jones, who revealed that Makhachev picked up the tab for Volk and his crew at a coffee shop following their rematch.

“So Volk shows up, but the guy we were meeting with, he had tried to see Islam as well before Islam left so Islam showed up at the coffee shop as well,” Jones said on the El Segundo Podcast. “So we’re all there eating lunch and having this meeting and he’s like, ‘Someone’s out front, but you probably don’t want to see him.’ Says that to Volkanovski. We look out the window and Islam’s crew comes in and they sit at another table.

“Islam actually paid our check. That was super kind of the guy. We didn’t hear about that until after and then Volk and Islam got a photo together.”

"Islam actually paid our check, which was super kind of the guy."

Craig Jones reveals that Islam Makhachev paid his and Volkanovski's meal after UFC 295

Via El Segundo pic.twitter.com/osKHz5sBk1

— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) October 27, 2023

With two losses against the lightweight titleholder, Alexander Volkanovski will likely return to his featherweight throne in preparation for a meeting with the division’s No. 5 ranked contender, Ilia Topuria.

Meanwhile, Islam Makhachev will look ahead to his next challenge at 155. Initially, it looked as though the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ would be paired up with current BMF titleholder Justin Gaethje for a fight in early 2024. However, UFC CEO Dana White seems to like the idea of rescheduling the bout between Makhachev and Oliveira for the beginning of the year, leaving Gaethje to hang out to dry.

Who would you like to see Islam Makhachev defend his title against next?

Justin Gaethje willing to sit out from UFC, wait for title fight with Islam Makhachev: ‘I have no issue waiting’

Former interim lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje insists he should be next to compete for divisional gold against the incumbent,…

Former interim lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje insists he should be next to compete for divisional gold against the incumbent, Islam Makhachev following last weekend’s UFC 294 win – however, as far as the Arizona native is further concerned, if he is overlooked in favor of a rematch with Charles Oliveira, he has no problem sitting out and laying in wait for his title fight.

Gaethje, a former interim lightweight champion, current number two ranked contender and symbolic BMF championship holder, has been sidelined since he featured in the main event of UFC 291 back in July, landing a stunning second round high-kick knockout win over Dustin Poirier in the pair’s rematch.

Featuring in the corner of training partner and former welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 last weekend, Gaethje would watch on as the above-mentioned, Makhachev turned in a stunning successful defense of his lightweight crown, stopping two-time foe and featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski with a thunderous first round high-kick knockout win.

K1 Islam Makhachev is here pic.twitter.com/aFNvI4rMAX

— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) October 24, 2023

And immediately campaigning for a title fight with Makhachev next, Gaethje’s chances to fight for gold against the Russian next have been immediately quashed, with UFC CEO, Dana White confirming plans to rebook Makhachev against Oliveira next.

Justin Gaethje willing to lay in wait for title fight with Islam Makhachev

Sharing his thoughts on his immediate fighting future, Gaethje claimed he would have no issue laying in wait for a title fight against Makhachev, questioning whom else he could fight in order to land a title fight.

“Who do I fight?” Justin Gaethje asked during a recent interview with ESPN. “There’s no one. I did what I had to do. I don’t know what else I need to do.”

Who wins in a future title fight: Islam Makhachev or Justin Gaethje?

Charles Oliveira confirms plan for UFC return in January, title fight with Islam Makhachev: ‘I’m next in line’

According to former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira, he could be in line for a return to the Octagon…

According to former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira, he could be in line for a return to the Octagon as soon as January next, as he also reveals plans are firmly in motion for him to rebook a championship rematch with Islam Makahchev, just days removed from their failed pairing at UFC 294.

Oliveira, the current number one ranked lightweight contender, was scheduled to headline UFC 294 over the course of last weekend in Abu Dhabi, UAE, until a nasty laceration suffered just 10 days’ out from the bout, forced his ultimate withdrawal from a title rematch with Makhachev.

In the Brazilian’s place stepped in undisputed featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski, who himself rematched Makhachev following a February clash, dropping a thunderous first round high-kick KO loss to the Russian at the Etihad Arena, however.

And despite his withdrawal from a championship rematch on short-notice, Oliveira has already been pegged by UFC CEO, Dana White to fight for gold in his return to active competition, in the form of a rematch with Makhachev.

Charles Oliveira immediate rebooking with Islam Makhachev

Sharing his thoughts on his immediate fighting future, Oliveira, who most recently turned in a blistering first round TKO win over the surging, Beneil Dariush at UFC 289 back in June in a maidan career win in Canada, confirmed plans for him and Makhachev to fight again next.

“Whoever the UFC says he’s (Islam Makhachev) going to fight, they’re going to fight,” Charles Oliveira said through a translator during an interview with MMA Fighting. “Everybody knows I’m next. First in the rankings, coming off of a great win, and ready to fight like I was before. I was ready for that fight [at UFC 294] until [the injury] happened, and I’m next in line.”

“… I’m training and I’m getting ready for it,” Charles Oliveira explained. “They know what I’m all about. I don’t fight for money. I fight to make history and I fight for my legacy. So, I’m going to to continue to train, continue to get prepared and try to get up to 100 percent just like I was right before this fight. When I’m 100 percent, that’s when I’ll be ready to fight.”

Who wins in a title rematch: Islam Makhachev or Charles Oliveira?

UFC Hall of Famer wants to see Islam Makhachev fight Conor McGregor next: ‘It makes sense’

UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier believes Islam Makhachev’s next move should be to book a fight with Irish…

UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier believes Islam Makhachev’s next move should be to book a fight with Irish megastar Conor McGregor.

Originally scheduled to run it back with Charles Oliveira in Abu Dhabi, Islam Makhachev instead found himself matched up with former foe Alexander Volkanovski who stepped into the bout on 11 days’ notice after ‘Do Bronx’ sustained an injury while sparring. In the end, it only took Makhachev three minutes to put Volkanovski on the canvas courtesy of a perfectly timed head kick in the opening round to retain the lightweight world championship.

With their rivalry all, but over, Islam Makhachev will now look to the future and his next potential challenger. In all likelihood, that will either be the man he was originally scheduled to face, Charles Oliveira, or current BMF titleholder Justin Gaethje.

But if the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ takes Danie Cormier’s advice, he could find himself standing inside the Octagon with the biggest star in the history of the sport.

“I think Islam should fight Conor McGregor next,” Cormier said during a recent episode of DC&RC. “It’s built in. It’s the biggest money fight the UFC can make, and why not? You have Islam Makhachev – who looks to be a guy that’s gonna be a dominant champion. In order to have that dominant champion go to the next level of superstardom, you need a foil. You need a guy that can elevate him. The guy that can elevate him to that level is Conor McGregor.”

McGregor vs. Makhachev Could be a massive money-making opportunity for all parties involved

From a sporting standpoint, the bout makes very little sense. Conor McGregor has won one fight in the last six years and hasn’t come close enough to sniff the lightweight top ten, let alone be among its ranks, for quite some time. But from a marketing and money-making perspective, there are few fights you could make bigger than McGregor vs. Makhachev.

Aside from their status as two of the biggest names in the sport, McGregor’s long-standing rivalry with Makhachev’s mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, would be more than enough to sell the fight with minimal effort. Not to mention what a victory over a name like McGregor could do for Makhachev’s status as a bonafide UFC superstar.

“Look at what beating Conor McGregor did for Dustin Poirier,” Cormier continued. Look at what it did for Khabib Nurmagomedov. And we’re not even talking about all the other levels at which this just makes sense. You have Islam fighting Conor after the issues Conor had with Khabib and everything else. You have Islam fighting Conor, the biggest star in mixed martial arts coming back to the UFC…It makes sense.”

Islam Makhachev blasts pound for pound rankings: ‘I don’t understand what else I should do to get the #1 spot’

Reigning UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev questions why he is not the No.1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter following a recent…

Reigning UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev questions why he is not the No.1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter following a recent update.

Last Saturday Makhachev rematched late replacement Alexander Volkanovski, in what was a rematch of their highly competitive fight in February of this year and a fight between the No.2 and 3 pound-for-pound ranked fighters. This time however, Makhachev left no doubt – landing a head kick which sent Volkanovski crashing to the floor.

Makhachev followed up with devastating ground and pound which forced the referee to call and end to the action. It’s unclear who or when Makhachev will next fight, but the Dangestani man’s stock has never been higher.

Islam Makhachev reacts to latest rankings update

Following his comeback victory over Ciryl Gane to capture the UFC heavyweight title, Jon Jones would be honoured with the No.1 pound-for-pound spot. But with two wins over Volkanovski and his incredible win streak he has amassed, Makhachev does also hold a strong claim.

The new rankings were just released after last weekend’s UFC 294 and still Jones held the No.1 spot. Makhachev would react and questioned why he was not upped following his recent performance.

“I have already said at the press conference… who makes these rankings, what do they do it for? I have no clue,” Makhachev told Ushatayka. “I beat the pound-for-pound king before, they didn’t put me as No. 1. So now I am not surprised they did it this way again. Maybe that’s because he (Jones) is fighting soon so they want to promote his fight. (transcription h/t Red Corner MMA)

“I don’t understand what else I should do to get the No. 1 spot,” Makhachev continued. “Other than beat the one who was No. 1.”

Do you think Islam Makhachev should be ranked No.1 pound-for-pound?

Islam Makhachev speaks with Ushatayka following his victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294