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Khabib Nurmagomedov confused by the UFC’s recent handling of the lightweight division: ‘It makes no sense’

Khabib Khabib Nurmagomedov does not understand the UFC’s handling of the lightweight division as of late. After laying down the…

Khabib Nurmagomedov does not understand the UFC’s handling of the lightweight division as of late.

After laying down the lightweight title and walking away from the sport in 2020, Nurmagomedov helped his friend and protege Islam Makhachev climb to the top of the division, claiming the 155-pound crown for himself. Since then, the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ has defended the belt twice, both against former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski.

Last defending the title in October, many assumed that Makhachev would return in the spring for a showdown with Justin Gaethje. However, those plans were seemingly scrapped — or at the very least put on hold — when the promotion announced that ‘The Highlight’ would battle Max Holloway in a BMF superfight at UFC 300.

As exciting as that sounds, Gaethje’s pairing with Holloway has left Makhachev in limbo — a decision that has Khabib Nurmagomedov scratching his head in confusion.

Khabib Nurmagomedov says UFC's bookings at lightweight "make no sense" right now, leaving Islam Makhachev in limbo.

(via @MikeBohn) pic.twitter.com/WfqHSK5VW1

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) March 1, 2024

“All respect for Max Holloway, but I don’t know, and I don’t understand why UFC make this fight,” Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie following an appearance for Class A Events. “Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway: It makes no sense – (that’s) my opinion. My opinion, Holloway is supposed to fight with (Ilia) Topuria next, maybe September. Justin Gaethje is supposed to fight with Islam in May or June, and Tsarukyan vs. Oliveira, they fight in April. Whoever wins that (should be fighting) the winner of Islam vs. Justin Gaethje.

“Now, Topuria will fight with who? Movsar (Evloev) is the best option. I don’t know if Dana White will give him (a title shot). My opinion, he deserves this. I don’t understand. It makes no sense why they don’t give Islam (a fight with) Justin Gaethje, why they make him fight vs. Holloway.”

UFC CEO Dana White had previously stated that Makhachev was working through an injury, prompting the promotion to book Gaethje vs. Holloway and Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan at the landmark event on April 13.

However, Islam Makhachev has remained adamant that he is ready to defend his title, leading to a stalemate with no clear path forward.

“I don’t understand what UFC have planned,” Nurmagomedov said. “But Islam ready to fight with anyone.”

Max Holloway urged to withdraw from BMF title fight with Justin Gaethje at UFC 300: ‘He will hurt you’

Former undisputed featherweight champion, Max Holloway has been urged to consider withdrawing from his UFC 300 symbolic BMF title…

Former undisputed featherweight champion, Max Holloway has been urged to consider withdrawing from his UFC 300 symbolic BMF title fight with Justin Gaethje in April by former duel-weight champion, Henry Cejudo, who claims the former interim lightweight champion will cause irreversible damage to the Hawaiin if they fight.

Holloway, a former undisputed featherweight gold holder, has been sidelined since he headlined UFC Fight Night Singapore back in August – turning in a Fight of the Night display against former title chaser, Chan Sung Jung, landing a spectacular third round KO win ovsr the South Korean.

And as for Gaethje, the Arizona native landed hismelf the symbolic BMF title back in July of last year in Salt Lake City in the main event of UFC 291 against common-foe, Dustin Poirier, turning in a stunning second round high-kick KO in Utah.

Slated to feature in a high-profile UFC 300 main card clash in April, Gaethje will attempt to lodge his first attempted defense of the symbolic BMF crown against Holloway – and hopes to earn an undisputed lightweight title siege with a win.

Max Holloway backed to exit UFC 300 title fight return

However, ahead of the much-anticipated pairing between Gaethje and Holloway, the above-mentioned, Cejudo urged the Hawaiian to eject himself from the BMF title clash – at all costs.

“Get Max Holloway out of the fight with Justin Gaethje and give him that fight [against Ilia Topuria] in Spain,” Henry Cejudo told MMA Junkie. “You fight a guy like Justin Gaethje – Justin Gaethje is a dude that will hurt you, and you will not be the same. He’s done it to Tony Ferguson, he’s done it to a lot of people.”

“It’s lights out when you fight a guy like Justin Gaethje,” Cejudo explained. “I think sometimes you probably gotta save these guys from themselves.”

Do you think Max Holloway can defeat Justin Gaethje at UFC 300?

Jorge Masvidal Training for Boxing, MMA Fights; Eyes Gaethje, Covington as Opponents

Former UFC star Jorge Masvidal retired less than a year ago, but he’s already gearing up for his return to fighting. Masvidal told ESPN’s Marc Raimondi that…

Exclusive – Ex-UFC star Jorge Masvidal stokes flames on Justin Gaethje rivalry: ‘I’ll chop him up, break his orbital

Inaugural BMF titleholder, Jorge Masvidal has vowed to break the orbital of former interim lightweight gold holder and current…

Inaugural BMF titleholder, Jorge Masvidal has vowed to break the orbital of former interim lightweight gold holder and current symbolic champion, Justin Gaethje if they ever share the Octagon in the future – vowing to “chop up” the Arizonian.

Masvidal, a former two-time undisputed welterweight title chaser and the promotion’s first-ever symbolic BMF gold holder, called time on his storied career back in April of last year, suffering his fourth consecutive defeat.

Dropping a decision loss to fellow former title challenger, Gilbert Burns, Miami veteran, Masvidal has been linked with a potential move to professional boxing later this year, in the form of a rematch with former Octagon rival, Nate Diaz.

Jorge Masvidal issues warning to Justin Gaethje

And in a LowKick MMA exclusive, American Top Team staple, Masvidal told Michael Owens how if he was paired with the aforenoted, Gaethje in the future – whom he picked to lose against Max Holloway in their UFC 300 title clash, he would break the orbital of the lightweight veteran en route to a vicious win.

“Justin’s (Gaethje) very good,” Jorge Masvidal said. “The guy that he beat to get that belt is a f*cking stud, a killer in Dustin Poirier. But I just feel like, man – if you put BMF against BMF, you put me against Gaethje in there, I will break his f*cking eye orbital. And I will f*cking chop him up. So, hopefully that can happen at some point.”

Himself winning symbolic BMF spoils back in 2019, Masvidal turned in a dominant third round doctor’s stoppage TKO win over the above-mentioned, Diaz at Madison Square Garden – in the pair’s first pairing atop a UFC 244 pay-per-view card in New York City.

Would you like to see Jorge Masvidal fight Justin Gaethje in the future?

Exclusive – Jorge Masvidal backs Max Holloway to beat Justin Gaethje for BMF title at UFC 300

Jorge Masvidal is backing Max Holloway to leave with the BMF title at UFC 300. More than four years…

Jorge Masvidal is backing Max Holloway to leave with the BMF title at UFC 300.

More than four years after ‘Gamebred’ bested Nate Diaz to win the inaugural bragging rights belt, the faux championship will be defended for the first time when current “baddest motherf*cker” Justin Gaethje meets former featherweight king Max Holloway as part of the promotion’s landmark event on April 13 — UFC 300.

Speaking with Mike Owens in a LowKick MMA exclusive interview, Masvidal is putting all of his support behind ‘Blessed,’ praising Holloway’s style inside the Octagon and the human being he is outside of it.

“I think Max Holloway is one of the baddest motherf*ckers that ever lived,” Masvidal said. “That’s a dude that I f*cking salute. I love his style. I love his story. I love his beginnings. I love how humble of a person he is. I’m going for Max all the way, but I think it’s going to be a f*cking great fight.”

Jorge Masvidal (@GamebredFighter) joins @LowKick_MMA reporter, @MikeOwensMedia to provide an update on his potential boxing move this year — while also previewing #UFC300, and the massive BMF title fight in April.

Full Interview – https://t.co/fLLiKSOomg pic.twitter.com/5TPRsHVFMz

— LowKickMMA.com (@LowKick_MMA) February 20, 2024

Jorge Masvidal Leaves the Door Open for BMF Superfight with Justin Gaethje

When the BMF belt was first introduced, it was nothing more than a gimmick to help sell a non-title headliner between Masvidal and the ‘Stockton Samurai’ at UFC 244. As a result, ‘Gamebred’ never had the opportunity to defend the belt.

“When I won the belt, Dana said it would be one and done and there would be no defending it,” Masvidal added. “So there never was any talk about it, at least for me. But I think now I think the temperature on that has changed. They’re doing things a little different and Justin is very good. The guy that he beat to get that belt (Dustin Poirier) is a f*cking stud.

“But if you put BMF against BMF. If you put me in there against Gaethje, I would break his f*cking orbital and I would chop him up. Hopefully, that can happen at some point.”

Jorge Masvidal’s BMF title win against Nate Diaz would be the last victory of his UFC career. After suffering four-straight losses against Colby Covington, Gilbert Burns, and Kamaru Usman in back-to-back bouts, Masvidal walked away from mixed martial arts, though he has left the door open for a potential return.

Next, Masvidal is expected to make his pro boxing debut under his own banner — Gamebred Boxing — later this year.

Watch the full exclusive interview with Jorge Masvidal below:

Video – Max Holloway tries to pants Justin Gaethje during first face off ahead of UFC 300 title fight

Coming face-to-face for the first time since their booking for a massive symbolic BMF title fight at UFC 300…

Coming face-to-face for the first time since their booking for a massive symbolic BMF title fight at UFC 300 in April, former undisputed featherweight champion, Max Holloway jokingly tried to pants former interim lightweight gold holder, Justin Gaethje during their first face-off ahead of their clash.

Holloway, the current number one ranked featherweight contender, is slated to make his sophomore lightweight divisional walk in April, in the form of his BMF championship showdown with Arizona native, Gaethje at UFC 300.

In the midst of a two-fight winning run at 145 pounds, Hawaiian favorite, Holloway most recently turned in a dominant knockout win over former title challenger, Chan Sung Jung back in August, face-planting the South Korean in his retirement.

As for Gaethje, the former interim champion has been sidelined since July of last year, where he scored a thunderous second round high-kick KO win over common-foe, Dustin Poirier, landing the BMF championship title.

Justin Gaethje faces off with Max Holloway ahead of UFC 300

And sharing the stage at a pre-fight Q&A session ahead of UFC 300 in April – Holloway and Gaethje faced-off for the first time since their booking, eventually – after the former attempted to briefly pants the symbolic belt winner, in front of Aljamain Sterling.

Staking their respective claims to land the main event bracket of a much-anticipated UFC 300 card – which has still yet to receive it’s officially headlining bout, Gaethje x Holloway has been predicted as receiving just that billing by play-by-play commentator, Jon Anik – who suggested the BMF title fight is his frontrunner to close the flagship show in April.

Who wins at UFC 300 in April: Justin Gaethje or Max Holloway?