Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is once more demanding a shot at UFC gold for his protege, Islam Makhachev. With the lightweight belt currently vacant following Charles Oliveira’s failure to make weight ahead of UFC 274, Khabib wants to see Islam fight Charles for the title, telling ESPN he’ll even take the fight on Oliveira’s home turf in Brazil.
““When we see how much is going with Charles Oliveira, I don’t think he can do anything with Islam on the ground, and of course Islam is very good in stand up, too.
Khabib Demands Makhachev vs Oliveira in Brazil
Last couple years, people don’t even touch him. All these guys, they’re good strikers and they don’t even touch him. Islam dominated all of them and the last 11 months, Islam finished four opponents. Finished all of them. This is going to be fair if he fights with Charles for vacant title, because now there’s no champion in the lightweight division. Of course, Charles deserves this, but there is no champion.”
Khabib took particular umbrage with the notion that Islam needs to “earn” a title shot. Islam’s winning streak and penchant for highlight-reel finishes should speak for itself.
“Why Islam have to fight for the contender fight if there is no champion? Let them fight, best versus best. There is only Islam and Charles, and every near is Beneil Dariush, but he has only seven [fight] win streak, and when the UFC gave him a chance, he got injured.
OK, if when you come back you want to fight with some top guy then fight for the title. Beneil has to fight contender fight and Islam has to fight for the title versus Charles Oliveira. This is my opinion and this is fair. 11 win streak versus 10 win streak. Let them fight.”
The most commonly accepted trajectory for Islam at this point is a contender fight against Beneil Dariush, the winner of which could challenge Oliveira.
“If they don’t want to come to Abu Dhabi to fight with Islam, OK. I hear Charles Oliveira’s coach say, ‘Come to Brazil.’ OK, no problem.
Send us location.
We’re going to come to Brazil, Islam’s going to ride Charles Oliveira like his horse, we’re going to take this belt, and we’re going to show them if sambo was easy, it would be called jiu-jitsu, and we’re going to go home with the UFC lightweight belt.”
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