After a dominant victory against Drew Dober at
UFC
259, Islam
Makhachev is one of the fastest-rising contenders in the
lightweight division.
Makhachev, who has won seven consecutive fights within the Las
Vegas-based promotion, has been tabbed by former 155-pound king
Khabib
Nurmagomedov as a future champion. The 29-year-old Dagestani
called for a showdown with Tony
Ferguson after UFC 259, but with “El Cucuy” now booked against
Beneil
Dariush, has turned his attention to other potential
opponents.
One of those is Rafael dos
Anjos, who Makhachev was supposed to face at UFC 254 in October
and at UFC Fight Night 182 in November before the bout fell
through. Dos Anjos recently said he would only face Makhachev if a
victory granted him a rematch with Nurmagomedov, whose retirement
was only officially recognized by the UFC this past week.
“I don’t know why his opinion changed so quickly,” Makhachev said
in a video interview (translation via RT Sport). “He
won a fight and started acting differently. He was quiet when we
had a fight scheduled. He got taken off the card and I asked for a
replacement but the UFC said they’d give me a five-round main event
then I quietly got on a plane to the U.S. without my team because I
wanted that fight. Then I got sick and he had a fight and after
that he started talking differently.”
Dos Anjos is coming off a victory over Paul Felder
in the UFC Fight Night 182 main event after Makhachev withdrew
because of a staph infection. When considering the options,
Makhachev believes a rebooking with dos Anjos is the most logical
matchup.
“I don’t know what’s going on with the UFC matchmaking but I think
that’s what will end up happening,” Makhachev said. “Most of the
Top 10 fighters are busy but I’m 90 percent sure they’ll give me a
Top 10 guy…
“We know that Felder doesn’t want to fight often. He has other
things going on with the UFC and isn’t eager to fight anymore. As
far as [Dan] Hooker, I saw that he recently came home. He was
quarantined for a long time so I don’t think he’ll want to come
back soon. He’ll probably want to rest after getting knocked out,
so I think they’ll give me dos Anjos.”
Another possibility is Justin
Gaethje, who hasn’t competed since losing in a title bout to
Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 this past October. Makhachev would be
willing to face the former World Series of Fighting title holder,
as well. v “Yes, it’s possible. Justin and I know each other but
it’s not like we’re friends,” Makhachev said. “It’s possible. He’s
free right now. Why not? I’d love to fight him.”
In the meantime, Makhachev will observe how the rest of the
division plays out, including the lightweight championship clash
between Charles
Oliveira and Michael
Chandler scheduled for UFC 262 in May.
“Honestly, I think Oliveira deserves it. He’s got a good win
streak, but I don’t agree with Chandler being in there,” Makhachev
said. “He had one UFC fight and he hasn’t been tested. That first
fight ended quickly. I think Gaethje or Dustin
Poirier could have fought for the title. But the UFC always
have their own plans.”