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Beneil Dariush accuses Islam Makhachev of running from fight with welterweight move: ‘What about title defenses?’

Beneil Dariush accuses Islam Makhachev of running from fight with welterweight move Surging UFC lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush has slammed division champion, Islam Makhachev this week, questioning how the Dagestan native could warrant a move to the welterweight ranks – after the latter offered to fight Leon Edwards for 170lbs gold at UFC 294 in October on ‘Fight Island’. Dariush, in the midst of a stunning eight-fight […]

Surging UFC lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush has slammed division champion, Islam Makhachev this week, questioning how the Dagestan native could warrant a move to the welterweight ranks – after the latter offered to fight Leon Edwards for 170lbs gold at UFC 294 in October on ‘Fight Island’.

Dariush, in the midst of a stunning eight-fight winning spree, returns to the Octagon in search of a number-one contender’s stop in May, tackling soon-to-be common-foe, former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 288 in Newark, New Jersey.

Moving to 8-0 in as many fights back in October of last year in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Kings MMA staple, Dariush halted the run of former two-weight KSW champion, Mateusz Gamrot with an impressive unanimous decision victory.

However, in his pursuit of lightweight gold, Dariush may run into a stumbling block, with Makhachev calling for a welterweight championship effort against undisputed kingpin, Edwards following UFC 286.

Beneil Dariush left frustrated by Islam Makhachev’s potential welterweight climb

Questioning how the American Kickboxing Academy mainstay could warrant a move after defending his title just once, Dariush accused Makhachev of trying to run from a future fight against him.

“I don’t understand – like, what about title defenses,” Beneil Dariush said during an appearance on Submission Radio. “It’s like people – I don’t know what’s going on with him (Islam Makhachev). Why? Maybe he’s having a hard time making weight at 155lbs and he’s just like, ‘Eh, let’s just go to 170 and relax’. Honestly. I don’t get it.”

“I think he needs to focus on his division,” Beneil Dariush explained. “There’s a lot of good fighters in his division. Maybe, in my opinion, [it’s] the best division (in the UFC). So, I don’t know why he’s trying to run off to other divisions.”

Headlining UFC 284 back in February, Makhachev managed to successfully land his first defense of the undisputed lightweight crown – defeating featherweight titleholder, Alexander Volkanovski in a close decision triumph in Perth, Australia.

However, prior to his call out of Edwards for an October battle in Abu Dhabi, UAE – Makhachev expressed his interest in a new challenge against the likes of Dariush in his next attempt lightweight title defense.

Bryce Mitchell accuses UFC of match-Fixing, claims Makhachev, Volkanovski fight was ‘Rigged as f*ck’

UFC featherweight contender, Bryce Mitchell has claimed February’s undisputed lightweight title fight between division champion, Islam Makhachev, and featherweight kingpin, Alexander Volkanovski was “rigged as f*ck” – slapping match-fixing accusations on the organization. Mitchell, who most recently featured at UFC 282 back in December of last year, slumping to his first professional mixed martial arts […]

Mitchell, who most recently featured at UFC 282 back in December of last year, slumping to his first professional mixed martial arts loss with a second round arm-triangle submission loss to surging division contender, Ilia Topuria.

Currently boasting the #11 rank in the official featherweight pile, Mitchell is scheduled to return to the Octagon at UFC 288 in May at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey – taking on Jonathan Pearce.

Bryce Mitchell claims Islam Makhachev, Alexander Volkanovski was “rigged”

Sharing his thoughts on February’s undisputed lightweight title fight between Makhachev and Volkanovski, outspoken grappler, Mitchell claimed the fight was most definitely rigged.

“That fight [Islam Makahchev vs. Alexander Volkanovski] was rigged as f*ck,” Bryce Mitchell said during an interview on Fanatics View. “But he [Makhachev] brings in all that money from the Middle East. When you’re bringing in that kind of oil money and all that Middle Eastern money, bro… Like, all the rich people in the world, they’re all from the Middle East.”

“I guess they just f*ckin’ paid the judges to – I don’t know,” Bryce Mitchell explained.

Fighting to a competitive, back-and-forth decision win over New South Wales favorite, Volkanovski in Perth, Australia – Makhachev managed to successfully defend his championship, however, Mitchell claims the featherweight champion should have landed a judging win.

“I know Alexander Volkanovski won a decision,” Bryce MItchell explained. “I don’t think nothing, I know he won and I know that sh*t was rigged, and I’m not f*cking stupid. You can’t tell me that sh*t wasn’t rigged. I’m not buying it.”

“You can pay them judges whatever you want to pay ‘em,” Bryce Mitchell said. “I know Alexander Volkanovski won that fight.”

Kamaru Usman continues slide further down pound for pound rankings following UFC 286 decision loss

Kamaru Usman, who was once the UFC pound-for-pound number one fighter, has once again dropped down the ladder with the conclusion of his trilogy against Leon Edwards. With all the marbles on the line at UFC 286, Usman had made it clear that Edwards capitalizing on a mistake he made in their rematch would not […]

Kamaru Usman, who was once the UFC pound-for-pound number one fighter, has once again dropped down the ladder with the conclusion of his trilogy against Leon Edwards.

With all the marbles on the line at UFC 286, Usman had made it clear that Edwards capitalizing on a mistake he made in their rematch would not be repeated, but ‘Rocky’ once again found a way to win.

Although there may have been several referee interventions against Edwards, including a point deduction after a fence grab, the Jamaican-born welterweight remained composed and clearly out-pointed Kamaru Usman over five rounds, winning by majority decision.

Kamaru Usman slips down the UFC pound-for-pound pile

This, just the second loss of Usman’s UFC career, steered him down three spots in the P4P rankings, taking him from #5 to #8.

Undisputed bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (#7), newly crowned middleweight champion Alex Pereira (#6), and former champion Israel Adesanya (#5) all moved up ahead of the Kamaru Usman.

Pereira will defend his title for the first time at UFC 287 in Miami, Florida. This will be his fourth time exchanging blows with ‘The last stylebender’ in combat sports, and it will surely have a major influence on the next P4P update.

Sterling will go head-to-head with former two-division champion Henry Cejudo at UFC 288, as Cejudo returns following a three-year layoff.

While Jon Jones is set to face Stipe Miocic this summer, it is unlikely any result removes him from his P4P #1 status, a ranking he has been familiar with throughout his UFC career.

It is up to Alexander Volkanovski (#2), who will be returning to featherweight to fight interim champion Yair Rodriguez later this year, to put any kind of pressure on Jones’ position.

P4P #3 Islam Makhachev may have struggled immensely in his first championship defence, but he will have to remain consistent as Edwards crawls his way up the rankings.

Edwards is expected to hold his second title defence against Colby Covington as per Dana White.

Islam Makhachev calls for welterweight title fight with Leon Edwards after UFC 286: ‘I want him next’

Undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has called for the opportunity to avenge his Dominance MMA stablemate, Kamaru Usman following his UFC 286 title trilogy rubber match loss to Leon Edwards tonight in London – seeking an October welterweight championship bout in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Makhachev, the undisputed lightweight champion, defended his crown for the […]

Makhachev, the undisputed lightweight champion, defended his crown for the first time back in February of this year at UFC 284 – besting featherweight gold holder, Alexander Volkanovski in a close, unanimous decision victory.
As for Edwards, the Birmingham native bookended his rivalry with former champion, Usman tonight – landing himself an even closer majority decision (48-46, 48-46, 47-47) victory over the Nigerian on home soil in England.

Recovering from a third round point deduction following a fence grab after a takedown attempt from Usman, Team Renegade BJJ & MMA mainstay, Edwards took the fifth and final round against the former – swaying the scorecards in his favor in the capital.

Receiving an immediate offer of an International Fight Week return at UFC 290 in July, Edwards dismissed a championship outing with former interim welterweight titleholder, Colby Covington.

Islam Makhachev calls for title outing with Leon Edwards in October

Weighing up a potential grudge match against the victor of next month’s welterweight matchup between Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287 in Miami, Florida – Edwards has also now received a call out from lightweight kingpin, Makhachev in the immediate aftermath of UFC 286.

“I want Leon (Edwards) next, October in Abu Dhabi (closed fist emoji,” Islam Makhachev tweeted.

Talking his fighting future at lightweight recently, Dagestan grappling ace, Islam Makhachev also pointed his interest in a potential rebooked title fight against the surging, Beneil Dariush – who challenges soon-to-be common-foe, Charles Oliveira at UFC 288 in May in Newark, New Jersey.

Islam Makhachev expects UFC to sideline him until Abu Dhabi event: ‘They want to give me time to rest’

Undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has claimed that he will likely remained sidelined from the Octagon until the promotion makes its return to Abu Dhabi, UAE later this year. Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion, headlined UFC 284 last month in Perth, Australia – defending his championship for the first time. Featuring opposite undisputed […]

Undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has claimed that he will likely remained sidelined from the Octagon until the promotion makes its return to Abu Dhabi, UAE later this year.

Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion, headlined UFC 284 last month in Perth, Australia – defending his championship for the first time.

Featuring opposite undisputed featherweight titleholder, Alexander Volkanovski, Makhachev managed to defend his lightweight crown – securing a unanimous decision triumph over the New South Wales favorite.

Winning the vacant lightweight crown back in October of last year on ‘Fight Island’ – Makhachev stopped former undisputed champion, Charles Oliveira with a second round arm-triangle choke in the main event of UFC 280.

Weighing up options for his next attempted title defense, Islam Makhachev has been linked with potential fights with both Beneil Dariush, and the aforenoted, Oliveira – who fight in May – as well as former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor.

Islam Makhachev is expected to remain sidelined until a ‘Fight Island’ return

Noting his intentions to fight at the welterweight limit in the future too in a bid to become a two-weight champion to boot, Makhachev revealed that he will likely be restricted to competition on ‘Fight Island’ by the UFC – with officials urging the American Kickboxing Academy staple to take time to rest and recover.

“They all say, Sean Shelby [UFC matchmaker], Hunter (Campbell{ [UFC Chief Business Officer[, Dana (White) [UFC president] – they all say, ‘We want to give you some time for the rest and we want to see you in Abu Dhabi,’” Islam Makhachev said during an interview on WEIGHING IN. “In my mind, I think they’re [the UFC] gonna give me [a fight in] June, maybe August, some fight. [But] they say, ‘You will come back in Abu Dhabi.’”

Off the back of UFC 285 earlier this month, Makhachev slumped to #3 in the official pound-for-pound ranking – dropping beneath the above-mentioned, Volkanovski, as well as newly minted heavyweight champion, Jon Jones – who tops the list following his submission win over Ciryl Gane.

Islam Makhachev doubts Conor McGregor makes UFC return: ‘He drinks too much, smokes all day’

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev continues to ridicule Conor McGregor as he believes a return against Michael Chandler is highly unlikely. The UFC’s greatest superstar continues to catch the public eye, as he coaches season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter against a slightly newer face in the UFC, Chandler. He was also seen in a […]

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev continues to ridicule Conor McGregor as he believes a return against Michael Chandler is highly unlikely.

The UFC’s greatest superstar continues to catch the public eye, as he coaches season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter against a slightly newer face in the UFC, Chandler.

He was also seen in a joyful mood at UFC 285 for the return of Jon Jones, alongside actor Jake Gyllenhaal who he filmed the upcoming movie ‘RoadHouse’ with.

It is no secret that the lightweight champion has bad blood with McGregor due to their past history in the Khabib Nurmagomedov saga.

Makachev expressed his thoughts on the ‘WEIGHING IN’ podcast, hosted by retired referee John McCarthy.

“No, I don’t think Conor (McGregor) wants to fight with him (Michael Chandler), cause he’s drinking too much, smoking all day he just can’t,” Islam Makhachev said.

Islam Makhachev said the filming of TUF is a ploy to keep McGregor relevant and he went as far as telling BT Sport that Chandler lost his last fight on purpose to become a suitable opponent for McGregor.

He may not be holding back his thoughts, but Islam Makhachev has come under heavy scrutiny of his own recently.

With the majority of criticism coming from a large sum of MMA fans who believe Alexander Volkanovski was the clear winner of his first title defence in Perth.

He has also been accused of illegally using an IV while rehydrating for UFC 284, and Dan Hooker also believes he has a history with steroids.

Dumb cunt thinks he can fly to Australia hire a nurse to give him an I.V and we won’t find out. Cheating dog.

— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) February 13, 2023

Regardless of the outcome, it seems as though the UFC has opted to ignore the accusations, and Makhachev may not have his next opponent lined up, but he said he doesn’t rule out the option of a big-money fight.

Islam Makhachev open to future fight with Conor McGregor

He stated that if the TUF 31 coaches did end up meeting in the octagon, then he would happily face the winner.

“Why not?” Islam Makhachev said with a laugh. “Some fighter have to be stupid to say no. It’s 100% big money fights. Now everybody know he’s not in shape.

“Ass beating, make money, be happy.”

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