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Daniel Cormier warns fans about Islam Makhachev’s return: ‘People are going to be disappointed about his next fight’

Islam Makhachev fans disappointed with his title opponent at UFC 294 Daniel Cormier Expected to headline UFC 294 despite the fact he is yet to officially land an opponent for the October pay-per-view event, undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makahchev will likely “disappoint” fans with his championship opponent, according to American Kickboxing Academy training partner, Daniel Cormier. Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion, has yet to be booked to […]

Expected to headline UFC 294 despite the fact he is yet to officially land an opponent for the October pay-per-view event, undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makahchev will likely “disappoint” fans with his championship opponent, according to American Kickboxing Academy training partner, Daniel Cormier.

Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion, has yet to be booked to return to the Octagon since featuring in Perth, Australia back in February in the main event of UFC 284.

Successfully defending his lightweight crown at the first time of trying, Russian sambo ace, Islam Makhachev landed a unanimous decision win over pound-for-pound number one and current featherweight kingpin, Alexander Volkanovski.

Weighing up a potential fight with former foe and ex-champion, Charles Oliveira prior to the Brazilian’s admittance that an October date is too soon for his return, Islam Makhachev also suggested a welterweight title fight with division champion, Leon Edwards for the Abu Dhabi, UAE card to boot.

Daniel Cormier urges fans to quell their expectations for Islam Makhachev’s return

However, according to ex-two-weight champion, Cormier, Makhachev’s expected next opponent is sure to disappoint fans at UFC 294.

“I think Islam Makhachev will next fight against someone that is not even necessarily on our radar,” Daniel Cormier said on an episode of DC & RC. “It’s supposed to be the winner of (Justin) Gaethje vs. (Dustin) Poirier, but I do not believe that those guys will come out of that fight clean and be healthy enough to put a title fight right that soon.”

“I also know that Charles Oliveira has already told the fans he’s not fighting in October,” Cormier explained. “We’re going to have to go down the lightweight rankings and find some other guy, and people are going to be very disappointed. It’ll be the number four, five, or six ranked guy that’s going to get a title shot because there just will be no one else.”

Alexander Volkanovski accuses Islam Makhachev of running from UFC 294 rematch: ‘You don’t want the smoke’

Set for a six week recovery period following a recent surgical procedure to address a long-standing elbow injury, undisputed featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski has accused rival, Islam Makhachev from “running” from a potential title rematch at UFC 294 in October. Volkanovski, the recently-minted pound-for-pound number one, managed to retain the featherweight crown for the fifth […]

Volkanovski, the recently-minted pound-for-pound number one, managed to retain the featherweight crown for the fifth time at UFC 290 earlier this month, landing a third round ground strikes TKO win over interim gold holder, Yair Rodríguez to successfully unify the featherweight titles.

The victory propelled Volkanovski back to the winner’s enclosure following a close unanimous decision loss to the aforenoted, Makhachev at UFC 284 back in February in Perth, Australia – seeing his promotional-perfect run come to an end.

And weighing up a potential title rematch with the Russian atop a UFC 294 card in October in the Middle East, Volkanovski has accused the former of “running” from a potential title rematch, after Makhachev suggested a welterweight championship clash with Leon Edwards for the event as he searches for an elusive opponent.

“You running brotha, you don’t want this smoke,” Alexander Volkanovski tweeted in response to Islam Makhachev.

Earmarked to headline the promotion’s return to the Etihad Arena in October, Makhachev was expected to fight former lightweight titleholder, Charles Oliveira at the event, however, the Brazilian confirmed that a niggling injury would prevent him from a return at UFC 294.

Yet to be paired for the pay-per-view headliner, Makhachev called for a welterweight title siege against Birmingham native, Edwards in the desert overnight.

Islam Makhachev urges Alexander Volkanovski to fight him at UFC 294

And appearing to deny claims that he is running from the long-awaited title rematch, Makhachev urged New South Wales native to actually pen a deal to meet him in October.

“Take the fight then,” Islam Makhachev tweeted at Alexander Volkanovski.

Islam Makhachev calls for welterweight title fight with Leon Edwards at UFC 294: ‘What do you think?’

Without a pairing for his earmarked return at UFC 294 in October, undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has suggested a welterweight title outing against current division kingpin, Leon Edwards in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion, has been sidelined since he headlined UFC 284 back in February in Perth, Australia – defeating […]

Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion, has been sidelined since he headlined UFC 284 back in February in Perth, Australia – defeating pound-for-pound number one and featherweight titleholder, Alexander Volkanovski in a close decision win.

Expected to make his return at UFC 294 in October in the Middle East, Makhachev, who has yet to be booked to fight at the Etihad Arena, however, recently seen a potential title rematch with Brazilian favorite, Charles Oliveira fall to the wayside for the time being, at least.

Touted to fight the Makhachkala native in October in a title re-run, Oliveira has revealed that a UFC 294 return would come too soon for him, instead offering to compete against Islam Makhachev at UFC 295 in November, or UFC 296 in December, respectively.

Islam Makhachev calls for title bout with Leon Edwards at UFC 294

For Makhachev, the Russian has an idea in mind to see him compete at UFC 294, nevertheless, offering to fight Birmingham native, Edwards in October for welterweight spoils.

“UFC Abu Dhabi (UFC 294), October 21st,” Islam Makhachev tweeted. “Makhachev vs. Edwards. What do you guys think? @ufc @espnmma”

UFC Abu Dhabi, October 21st
Makhachev vs Edwards
What do you think? @ufc @espnmma

— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) July 18, 2023

Himself expected to fight former interim champion, Colby Covington in his return to the Octagon, Edwards who recently welcomed a clash in either October or November against the outspoken Clovis wrestler.

Sidelined since UFC 286 in March, Edwards turned in a trilogy rubber match win over former pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman on home soil – nabbing a close majority decision success.

Winning vacant lightweight gold at UFC 280 last year in the Middle East, Makhachev brought an end to Oliveira’s 12-fight winning run with a second round arm-triangle submission.

Michael Chandler plays up future UFC title fight with Islam Makhachev: ‘Our time is coming’

Still yet to book his long-awaited Octagon return against former two-division UFC champion, Conor McGregor, lightweight contender, Michael Chandler has switched attention to division titleholder, Islam Makhachev – amid speculation of the latter’s potential opponent for a pegged UFC 294 return. Chandler, the current number five ranked lightweight challenger, has been sidelined since he featured […]

Chandler, the current number five ranked lightweight challenger, has been sidelined since he featured on the main card of UFC 281 back in November of last year, suffering an eventual third round rear-naked choke submission loss to former interim champion, Dustin Poirier.

As for Makhachev, the Russian lightweight has been sidelined since he headlined UFC 284 back in February in Perth, Australia – successfully defending the undisputed title with a unanimous decision win over undisputed featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski.

Initially winning vacant gold at UFC 280 back in October of last year, Makhachev submitted former undisputed champion, Charles Oliveira with a second round arm-triangle choke in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Yet to be booked to make his return to the Octagon ahead of an earmarked headlining slot at UFC 294 in October, Makhachev has seen a potential title rematch with Oliveira fall to the wayside, with the Brazilian confirming himself how a return date is coming “too soon” for him.

Islam Makhachev receives a call out from Michael Chandler ahead of UFC 294

Likely left opponent-less for his expected return at UFC 294, Makhachev has been called out by the aforenoted Missouri native, Michael Chandler – who claimed that the pair are on a collision course.

“Our time is coming,” Michael Chandler replied to Islam Makhachev on his official Twitter account overnight.

Our time is coming…

— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 9, 2023

Earlier this year, however, Chandler, a former three-time Bellator MMA lightweight champion served as an opposing coach on The Ultimate Fighter 31 – standing opposite the aforenoted, McGregor, with the duo expected to take on each other at the welterweight limit, however, at the time of publication, an official location, date, or event for the pairing has yet to be determined by the organization.

Alexander Volkanovski optimistic about Islam Makhachev rematch at UFC 294: ‘I’m not ruling that out’

Even though Alexander Volkanovski has just defended his belt at UFC 290 against Yair Rodriguez, he’s already looking forward and eyeing a potential rematch with Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. Oh, and that’s despite Volkanovski’s need for an arm surgery. While Volkanovski has slowly been building his legacy these last few years […]

While Volkanovski has slowly been building his legacy these last few years as a UFC champion, the possibility of cementing himself as one of the few double champions in UFC history has been very enticing to him. He fought Islam Makhachev to a very close decision at UFC 284 and has confessed to being eager for another shot at the lightweight title.

“We all know I want that lightweight belt,” Alexander Volkanovski began, speaking at the UFC 290 post-fight press conference (H/T MMA Fighting). “We all know I want that rematch. I want that Islam fight. I think not only for me to get that belt, to get that win back but I think it is a massive fight for the UFC as well.”

Alexander Volkanovski talks about a rematch with Islam Makhachev

“I think it’s a fight everyone wants to see,” Volkanovski continued. “It was literally that type of fight. It was that close. It was a cracking fight. Everyone enjoyed it. I was very, very high level. It was (No. 1 and No. 2 pound-for-pound) going at it. We showed out, it really was that., He lived up to the hype. I lived up to the hype and that fight lived up to the hype. We just need to see (rounds) 5 to 10.”

While Charles Oliveira is widely assumed to be next up for his own rematch with Islam Makhachev, Oliveira is not interested in fighting until November, or December. This opens up the possibility of somebody like Alexander Volkanovski stepping up to face Makhachev at UFC 294 in Abu, Dhabi.

“It makes it a lot better opportunity for me to step in there (against Islam Makhachev),” Volkanovski said when addressing Oliveira not being ready for October. “I’m not ruling that out. It’s funny. These people want extra time off and here I am telling you I’m going to get surgery and I’ll probably going to turn out there in October. That’s what I’m showing you.”

Do you think Volkanovski will be ready to rematch Makhachev in October?

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