Islam makhachev is the current lightweight champion. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter/@UFC
Amid a turbulent scenario in the lightweight division (up to 70,3 kg), Khabib Nurmagomedov appeared to cool the expectations of those waiting Ilia Topuria x Islam makhachev next. Aware that the former featherweight champion (up to 65,7kg) wants to face the Russian next, the veteran ruled out the possibility of the chance being offered immediately.
“Arman (Tsarukyan) is a more serious challenge than Topuria. Topuria is good at 66kg, but we haven’t seen him at 70. Let’s say Topuria gets the title shot right away, Islam wins and then he loses another one. Islam will have beaten a nobody at 70kg. Islam doesn’t have much time, he’s about to turn 34, he doesn’t want to fight someone like Topuria, Volkanovski or Moicano anymore, coming in at the last minute,” Khabib said in an interview with Zubayraev.
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By continuing with his speech, Khabib did not close the door definitively for Topuria, but he did make a demand that the Spanish-Georgian comply in order to receive a chance at the title.
“He (Islam) wants real challengers, who have been in the division for a long time. If he (Topuria) wants to move up, he should win the spot,” he concluded.
I. Topuria is the former UFC featherweight champion. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @ufcbrasil
Still with no defined future, Makhachev is putting a hold on the category's plans while he awaits the result of the fight between his training partner Belal Muhammad | x Jack Della Maddalena, scheduled for the UFC 315, on May 10. The Russian's declared desire is to move up in weight to win his second title in his career with the organization.
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