Islam
Makhachev will defend his strap against Justin
Gaethje next, according to manager Ali Abdelaziz.
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The
Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight title picture is
currently a bit unclear. Makhachev has already expressed his
preference in defending his belt against Gaethje over former
opponents Charles
Oliveira and Arman
Tsarukyan.
Dana White recently announced a matchup between Oliveira and
Tsarukyan for UFC
300 on April 13, with the winner securing a next title shot
against the champ, who is expected to return after Ramadan.
However, Abdelaziz believes the title picture makes it obvious that
Gaethje deserves the next shot against Makhachev, who also
continues to chase that matchup.
“I think it’s obvious … Justin
Gaethje’s a guy that never wants something to be given to him.
He earned it with sweat and blood and tears inside the cage.
Islam
Makhachev, very interested to fighting him. He said, ‘Doesn’t
matter who, when, and how. I’ll fight anybody they give me.’
Justin
Gaethje has earned it and Islam is really excited about
fighting him,” The Dominance MMA CEO told ESPN.
Makhachev himself has since laid out a plan for his next three
bouts that would see him face Gaethje at a pay-per-view event in
June before squaring off against the Oliveira-Tsarukyan winner in
November.
June 8 UFC PPV vs Gaetje, November UFC MSG
vs Olivera/Arman, February 2025 vs Anybody Inshallah 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/yp0LKfj3Pw— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA)
January 10, 2024
Gaethje is currently on a two-fight winning streak that saw him
bounce back from a title loss against Oliveira. The BMF
titleholder’s only other loss since 2018 came in a title fight
against Makhachev’s mentor and teammate, Khabib
Nurmagomedov, at
UFC 254 .
Meanwhile, Makhachev dethroned Oliveira in October 2022 and has
since defended his strap twice against featherweight champ Alexander
Volkanovski.