While Javier Mendez admits that Arman
Tsarukyan is deserving of a title shot against Islam
Makhachev, he recently explained why the Dagestani prefers a
matchup against Leon
Edwards.
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Makhachev defended his lightweight title with a fifth-round
submission win over Dustin
Poirier in the main event at UFC 302
last weekend. Makhachev subsequently called for a welterweight
title shot against Leon
Edwards after the victory.
However, waiting in the wings is No. 1 lightweight contender
Tsarukyan, who turned down a UFC 302 gold bid against Makhachev due
to quick turnaround from his victory of Charles
Oliveira in April. After UFC 302, company CEO Dana White also
agreed that Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan is the next fight to make.
While Makhachev’s long term coach Mendez also deems Tsarukyan
deserving of a title shot, he would still prefer a welterweight
title shot next for his pupil. As per Mendez, a potential double
championship win will add more to Makhachev’s legacy rather than
another lightweight title defense.
While Makhachev is the No.1-ranked UFC pound for pound fighter,
White hailed Jon Jones as
the pound-for-pound king after UFC 302. Mendez further argued that
it was Jones achieving two-division glory that makes him the
pound-for-pound No. 1 for White.
“He’s earned his spot and Arman’s gonna get his shot. Whether now
or later, he’s just gonna get his shot, he deserves it and he’s
earned that right,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “But [for] Islam,
if you can give me that welterweight title shot, things are aligned
perfectly, I’ll take it. Because he wants that legacy fight. And
let’s face it, you defend your title at lightweight or you go for
the welterweight title, what’s gonna give you more legacy? You
obviously know it’s the welterweight. Why do you think Dana White
said about Jon Jones?
Because Jon Jones went
on to fight heavyweight, dominated at heavyweight, so therefore in
[Dana’s] eyes he’s pound-for-pound [No. 1].”
Meanwhile Edwards, who is slated to defend his welterweight strap
against Belal
Muhammad (23-3) at UFC 304
on July 27 in Manchester, recently dismissed the idea of fighting
Makhachev in the near future. According to “Rocky,” they both have
work to do in their respective divisions before plotting super
fights. The Brit also noted that UFC 302 marked Makhachev’s first
title defense against a seasoned lightweight, as his previous two
were against former featherweight champ Alexander
Volkanovski.