SUMMARY
- Islam Makhachev believes Arman Tsarukyan is the only other lightweight left to fight in the division.
- The 155-pound king plans on moving up a division to fight against Leon Edwards to become a double-champ.
Islam Makhachev is less than two weeks away from one of his biggest fights since becoming the 155-pound division’s king. Despite being the favorite in the matchup against the veteran Dustin Poirier, the Dagestani still has a legacy to maintain that extends beyond his own. Poirier has fought for the title multiple times even against Islam’s closest friend and career-long training partner Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Poirier predicts he’ll put Islam to sleep 👀
📰 https://t.co/FZR6mB2G3K pic.twitter.com/drnsHpTHz0
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) May 21, 2024
For Poirier, this may be his last fight in the UFC or at least the final one before retiring. However, Islam’s got a longer reign in the fight club awaiting him in the future. So far, the lightweight champion has fought only former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Recently, Islam made an appearance on Weighing In featuring Big John McCarthy and Josh Thompson to address his future in the division.
Islam Makhachev believes he doesn’t need to remain at lightweight after fighting Arman Tsarukyan
It is quite interesting what Islam Makhachev had to say about fighting at 155 in the future. He claims that he doesn’t have much to prove at lightweight after fighting at UFC 302 and a former opponent, Arman Tsarukyan. “After him [Tsarukyan] I think the whole job is done in my division. Because I don’t have any interesting fights, some exciting fights because they all beat each other. And after Arman, I’m going to jump to Welterweight,” he said.
Arman and Islam have fought against each other before and the latter had his hand raised by decision. Arman has since come up in the rankings and stands as one of the top contenders for the title. It may not be logical to fight Charles Oliveira in a rematch after Arman beat the former champion at UFC 300. Islam has been eyeing Leon Edwards for a while now and this is a matchup the Welterweight champion is also interested in.
Islam Makhachev remembers sparring with Leon Edwards at the AKA
While Edwards was on the rise, before officially commencing one of the longest active win streaks in the UFC, he paid a visit to the American Kickboxing Academy. Khabib used to train at AKA as well and the Dagestanis helped the Welterweight fighter to improve his ground game. Islam Makhachev remembers sparring with Edwards back in the day and claims he could be an exciting fight in the future.
🚨| Ariel Helwani reveals the 3 opponents offered to Leon Edwards for UFC 300. 😳
1️⃣ Khamzat Chimaev
2️⃣ Shavkat Rakhmonov
3️⃣ Islam Makhachev[The MMA Hour]#MMA #UFC pic.twitter.com/doNUwg3hpZ
— MMA Frenzy (@mma_frenzy) February 19, 2024
“I know it’s gonna be very good fight with Leon [Edwards]. Because I know this guy, I know his skills, I already spar with him in the AKA remember?… But he [improved]. That time, he [came] to AKA to improve his wrestling. Now, he have everything. Wrestling, very good striking, clinch [and] everything you know. That’s why I think it’s gonna be very good fight for me,” he said.
Makhachev vs Edwards was probably discussed over the past year, but there have been a lot of changes among contending fighters. Poirier was nowhere near a title fight until his impressive knockout win against Benoit Saint-Denis. Edwards has also fought almost every top-ranked contender there is besides Belal Muhammad, a fight that’s already been scheduled for UFC 304.