Islam Makhachev doesn’t want to fight any more featherweights.
Next month, Makhachev will defend his lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of UFC 311. It was a fight that was originally rumored for UFC Abu Dhabi back in October, but a hand injury prevented Makhachev from competing at the event. Now, though, the lightweight champion says he’s fully recovered.
“I fixed everything, all the problems with my hands,” Makhachev said at the introductory UFC 311 press conference on Friday. “I’ve been in camp the last three months. Jan. 18, I’ll be ready, 100 percent.”
But though the fight with Tsarukyan is looming, there’s already another possible matchup waiting for Makhachev. Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has steadfastly called for a shot at Makhachev in 2025, and when asked about that as a possibility, the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world was definitive.
“Oh man, I’m tired of giving chances to small guys,” Makhachev said. “I need my second belt. It’s nothing [against] him. He’s a good fighter, he’s a good, skilled fighter, but I don’t want to give him chance. I need a second belt. That fights for what? For me, it’s nothing. Just his name. I don’t need his name; I need the belt.”
Makhachev famously fought then-featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in his first two lightweight title defenses, winning the first via unanimous decision and then winning the short-notice rematch via first-round knockout.
Makhachev then submitted Dustin Poirier in their bout at UFC 302 and now has the opportunity to break the lightweight title defense record when he faces Tsarukyan. However, having already fought Tsarukyan once before — Makhachev won a unanimous decision when the two fought on short notice in 2019, the first bout of Tsarkuyan’s UFC career — Makhachev knows he’s in for quite the battle come January.
“If you watch the rankings, Arman is the No. 1 contender,” Makhachev said. “All my life, I told people I want to fight with the real contender who deserves high-level fights. He deserves [it], we will fight.”
UFC 311 takes place on Jan. 18 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
MMA Fighting – All Posts
