With Beneil Dariush's recent loss at UFC 289, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev finds himself uncertain about his next opponent.
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With Beneil Dariush’s recent loss at UFC 289, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev finds himself uncertain about his next opponent. Dariush, a rising contender, was defeated in the first round by Charles Oliveira, whom Makhachev had previously submitted in October at UFC 280. This outcome leaves Makhachev contemplating his next challenge as the landscape of potential opponents undergoes a shift following Dariush’s setback.
Following Charles Oliveira’s remarkable display against Beneil Dariush, UFC president Dana White expressed the idea of a rematch between Oliveira and Islam Makhachev, considering it a logical choice. However, Makhachev candidly confesses that he had been eagerly anticipating facing new opponents, yearning for fresh challenges in the octagon.
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While a rematch with Oliveira may make sense from a competitive standpoint, Makhachev’s desire to encounter new adversaries signals his preference for exploring uncharted territory in his quest to solidify his lightweight supremacy.
“Oliveira won, but I was rooting for Dariush. I thought it would be a new challenge for me. Dariush had eight wins in a row. I don’t know. I can’t say yet if my next fight will be a rematch against Charles. We have to wait. Now Justin (Gaethje) and Dustin (Poirier) will fight, and then the UFC will decide,” Makhachev said in a recent interview.
“Of course, I want a new name on my resume. It’ll be better for me. If Oliveira will not fight me now, everyone will say that I am avoiding him. I never choose my opponents. I will fight anyone the UFC gives me. I don’t think he can do anything. I’m not afraid of his grappling like the rest of the fighters. I can take him down at any time,” he added.
Alexander Volkanovski, the reigning featherweight champion, is among the fighters seeking a rematch with Islam Makhachev. Their intense encounter at UFC 284 in February resulted in a closely contested decision loss for Makhachev, pushing him to the limits. Volkanovski is eager to revisit the rivalry, aiming to settle the score and potentially secure a different outcome in their highly anticipated rematch.
“Volkanovski is exactly the same,” Makhachev said. “If they offer a rematch with Volkanovski, I will gladly accept it. I have said many times that I would be much better prepared if there were no nuances associated with the conduct of this tournament, acclimatization and so on.”
When it comes to his ideal choice, Islam Makhachev leans towards a matchup with former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier. Poirier is currently scheduled for a rematch against Justin Gaethje for the coveted “BMF” title in the main event of UFC 291 on July 29.
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