UFC lightweight Islam Makhachev was not happy to hear the UFC claim he didn’t want RDA at UFC 272 this weekend. In fact, he wants the world to know that he’ll run through everybody in the 155 pound division if that’s what it takes.
Makhachev told ESPN that, first of all, he doesn’t see any reason why Conor McGregor ought to get a shot at the lightweight crown. “They say Conor is maybe going to come back and fight for the title.
Islam Makhachev Fires Back at UFC 272 Criticism, McGregor Title Claim
When he fought last time in the lightweight division and won was 2016? Five, six years ago. I’m gonna take this belt, defend 35 times, and I’m gonna come to the welterweight division.”
As for the welterweights, Makhachev was unimpressed by the main event showing at UFC 272. “I saw this fight, I was in first row when Masvidal fought Colby. These guys, honestly, I really believe I can beat these guys one night, both.
Colby, he has just wrestling. I can beat him easy in wrestling. His striking is very slow. Other guy, Masvidal, I think he’s so old now he just makes some money, maybe a couple more fights, he’s gonna retire.”
Makhachev was miffed to find out that he was taking the blame for not fighting Rafael dos Anjos when Rafael Fiziev was forced out of the bout by illness. He said that as soon as he heard the news, he wanted to take the fight. Dana White’s claim that he wanted a million dollars to do so, says Islam, is totally false.
“I don’t want to talk about this, very small. Nothing big. Not million dollars, 100 percent not million dollars.” Dana said I turned down this fight but Monday morning when I wake up, I just saw some news like Fiziev had COVID, the fight is canceled and I’d been in California on vacation and I wake up and call my manager.
‘Hey, Ali [Abdelaziz]. I saw some news. Please call UFC and say I’m ready for take this fight.’ I asked about some conditions but very small conditions, nothing big that wasn’t possible to do. UFC [didn’t] call me, not Ali call me, I wake up and I call Ali and I tell him, talk with UFC please, I want this fight.
But UFC not do it. That’s why the fight didn’t happen and that’s it.” Islam Makhachev is currently riding a ten-fight win streak that he expects to earn him a shot at reigning champ Charles Oliveira. Currently, Oliveira is set to defend his title against Justin Gaethje this May, and Islam hopes to be champ by the end of 2022.
Do you agree with Islam Makhachev? Let us know in the comments.
