[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] is confident he can move up a division and claim a second UFC championship.
Lightweight champion Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) is expected to make his next title defense at UFC 294 on Oct. 22 in Abu Dhabi. While his focus is on defending his belt, he has aspirations of champ-champ status.
When dissecting UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC), who beat Kamaru Usman in back-to-back fights, Makhachev likes his chances.
“This is my dream, and I’m sure I can be double champion,” Makhachev said in an interview on Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel. “I can beat Leon Edwards. He showed good (takedown) defense. With me it’s gonna be different. I can strike with him, I can grapple with him, wrestling. Anywhere I can beat this guy. Just give me one chance, and that’s it. Maybe after I win a second belt, they’re gonna put me best pound-for-pound.”
Makhachev is coming off a close decision win over featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 in February. Makhachev’s aim was to claim the No. 1 spot in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings, but he remained No. 2 despite the win.
With [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] returning and making quick work of Ciryl Gane to capture the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285 in March, “Bones” is now top of the pound-for-pound rankings, bumping Makhachev down to No. 3.
“This is bullsh*t, brother,” Makhachev said. “How Jon Jones can be No. 1? He beat some guy who is not champion. This guy (Gane) don’t have belt, and they put him No. 1 pound-for-pound. This is bullsh*t. … Doesn’t matter how he beat him. The UFC put him best pound-for-pound. But other people who know about MMA, they know who is the best fighter in the world. Don’t call me lightweight champion. Call me pound-for-pound best fighter.”
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