Former lightweight champion points out main threat to Islam Makhachev's reign in the division

Islam makhachev before fighting in the UFC. Photo: Rperodução/Instagram

Leader of the weight-for-weight ranking, tied for the lead in lightweight title defenses (up to 70,3 kg) after submission over Dustin poirier in the main fight of UFC 302, last Saturday (1), and owner of 14 consecutive victories in the Octagon, Islam makhachev He is not unbeatable and will soon face his biggest challenge as champion of the category. At least that's what a former lightweight belt holder thinks.

During his appearance on the 'MMA Hour' podcast, Eddie Alvarez, former UFC and Bellator champion, compared Islam makhachev a Khabib Nurmagomedov and stated that the current champion is more vulnerable to defeat than his mentor, who retired undefeated.

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“Islam is not Khabib, he doesn’t fight like Khabib. Makhachev takes more risks and trusts that he will finish the guys, while Khabib knew that you wouldn't be able to deal with him throughout the fight and drained his energy and then finished him. Islam goes after it and makes himself more vulnerable, more susceptible to defeat than Khabib was”, he compared.

In Alvarez's opinion, the name to dethrone Islam makhachev from the lightweight throne is Arman Tsarukyan, first placed in the category ranking and possible next challenger.

“Arman (Tsarukyan) would beat him. I started to believe that right after the fight against Poirier. If you can balance it out at least a little bit with his wrestling in a way that he doesn't overwhelm you, then you can put him in a fight and you start to see that they are a little bit human. Islam wouldn't be the hammer the entire fight and we need to see how they deal with that. This is a fight I want to see, but I don't know if Makhachev's team wants this fight. They don’t want this fight,” said the former champion.

Islam makhachev e Arman Tsarukyan have already faced each other in the UFC. The duel took place in April 2019 and marked the Armenian's debut in the organization, still at the age of 22. On that occasion, the current champion emerged victorious in the unanimous decision of the judges.