Islam
Makhachev knows there will always be naysayers, but he believes
he has done enough to be in serious consideration for the next
lightweight title shot.
The Dagestani earned his ninth consecutive triumph at
UFC 267, as he rolled past Dan Hooker
for a submission victory at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday
night. Makhachev used a kimura to force a tapout from “The Hangman”
at the 2:25 mark of the opening stanza. It was Hooker’s first
submission defeat since 2012.
“I feel good because I show my level – I don’t know how many
minutes (it took),” Makhachev said at the UFC 267 post-fight press
conference. “Now everybody going to talk like Hooker is an easy
opponent, he don’t have grappling or wrestling. Hooker is tough. He
beat a lot of wrestling, grappling guy too. He beat Gilbert
Burns, many, many guys. I think I deserve now.
“When ]Michael] Chandler beat Hooker they give him title fight. Why
not [me]? I am ready, too. I’m here not to beat 15 people and
fight. I have nine fights [in a row now].”
Makhachev will have to wait for at least one fight, as reigning
155-pound champion Charles
Oliveira is slated to face Dustin
Poirier at UFC 269 on Dec. 12. The American Kickboxing Academy
representative doesn’t mind holding off until after a winner
emerges from that matchup.
“I think Poirier is gonna beat Oliveira,” Makhachev said. “Many
things going to change in next couple months. That’s why I’m going
to wait.