Tag: Islam Makhachev

Daniel Cormier shuts down interim lightweight title talk during Islam Makhachev’s recovery

Daniel Cormier is not in favor of an interim lightweight title fight while Islam Makhachev recovers.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] is not in favor of an interim lightweight title fight while [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] recovers.

Arman Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was expecting to run things back with lightweight champion Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) at UFC 308 Oct. 26 in Abu Dhabi, but a hand injury has sidelined Makhachev.

Tsarukyan suggested an interim title fight in the meantime, and Cormier thinks it’s completely unnecessary considering Makhachev’s recent strength of schedule.

“You get hurt, at times. Islam Makhachev has been active,” Cormier said on “Good Guy/Bad Guy” alongside Chael Sonnen. “He fought in October (2023) in Abu Dhabi against Alexander Volkanovski. He fought in (June 2023) in Newark, (N.J). … If he was to fight in October, it would’ve been three fights in a calendar year. There is no need for an interim championship. When in the world did we start to speak titles into existence?

“Could you imagine, Chael, if when you were chasing down Anderson Silva, you go, ‘Well, I’ll fight for the interim title. He ain’t ready in six months.’ And they said, ‘OK, Chael, you get to fight Brian Stann.’ You would’ve said, ‘Oh my God, I’m about to be a world champion!’ Who does Tsarukyan fight for an interim championship? Why are we creating belts, or at least trying? It just doesn’t need to be,when the champion has fought twice in seven months and is not going to be gone for that long.”

Tsarukyan emerged as No. 1 contender after defeating former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April. Makhachev admitted he’s not too motivated to rematch Tsarukyan after defeating him in April 2019, but would fight him if offered.

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Javier Mendez likes Islam Makhachev’s chances at middleweight: ‘He’s that good’

Javier Mendez backs Islam Makhachev moving up to middleweight.

[autotag]Javier Mendez[/autotag] backs [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] moving up to middleweight.

UFC lightweight champion Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) dreams of dual-champion status, but his plans of moving up to welterweight have been put on hold after his friend Belal Muhammad captured the 170-pound title.

Arman Tsarukyan is touted to be Makhachev’s next opponent, which would give Makhachev an opportunity to break the UFC record for most title defenses at lightweight.

“That’s a good reason to fight Arman or anybody else, and you get the most defenses in the lightweight history,” Mendez told Red Corner MMA. “I can’t believe three is the record. That’s just amazing how it turns over.

“So many fighters have won titles there, but they never kept it more than three title defenses. So Islam will break the record, and I want to see him go down as one of the greatest of all time, and I believe he’s on track to do that.”

Makhachev’s return has been delayed after suffering a ligament injury in his hand. If Makhachev notches one more title defense, Mendez would like to see him go after another UFC title.

With welterweight not happening, Mendez thinks Makhachev has the skill to excel at middleweight.

“Then after that let’s see what happens,” Mendez said. “Maybe Islam gains weight and goes to 185. I mean, he’d have to gain weight, obviously, because that’s a little big for him. You never know. He’s that good. (He’s) pound-for-pound No. 1 for a reason.”

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Arman Tsarukyan open to interim UFC title fight if Islam Makhachev not ready by this year

Arman Tsarukyan hopes to fight for the UFC title whether or not Islam Makhachev is part of the equation.

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] hopes to fight for the UFC title whether or not [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] is part of the equation.

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was offered lightweight champion Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) just two months after beating Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April, but turned it down due to the short notice. Makhachev fought Dustin Poirier instead at UFC 302, submitting him in Round 5.

Tsarukyan is expected to run things back with Makhachev next, but with Makhachev sidelined due to a ligament injury in his hand, he may have to wait. The streaking contender was hoping to challenge Makhachev at UFC 308 on Oct. 26 in Abu Dhabi.

“So my manager told me I’m going to fight in October vs. Islam,” Tsarukyan told Submission Radio. “And then he said that he got injured and now they moved that fight in December or maybe next year.

“So of course it’s sad because I already started training very hard, and I’m in shape, and I thought we’re going to fight in October, but it is what it is. So if it’s December for me, it doesn’t matter. I’m going to wait and train as much as I can.”

If the wait ends up stretching into next year, Tsarukyan wants to compete for an interim title.

“If Islam can’t fight this year, for sure I would like to fight for the interim title, and it doesn’t matter who is going to be in front of me,” Tsarukyan said. “Dustin Poirier, he’s a solid fighter and he has a lot of experience. Yeah, it would be great. Dustin, (Justin) Gaethje, Michael Chandler as well. But my focus is on Islam.”

Makhachev has made it clear that he’s not too interested in rematching Tsarukyan after beating him in 2019, but would fight him if offered. Tsarukyan, who’s won nine of his past 10, finds his comments laughable.

“He should fight with Paddy Pimblett – maybe he deserves more than me because I’m No. 1,” Tsarukyan said. “Because he can lose to me, that’s why he’s not interested in me. … I believe in myself. I’m going there to knock him out, and that’s it.”

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Javier Mendez: Injured Islam Makhachev ‘definitely not’ fighting at UFC 308 in October

Javier Mendez says Islam Makhachev’s return won’t be going down at UFC 308 in October.

The odds looked slim for an October return for [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag], given his recent comments.

Now his coach, [autotag]Javier Mendez[/autotag], has lent much credence to that possibility.

Mendez, long-time coach of Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC), recently gave an update on his pupil’s hand injury. He said there’s still no timeline for his return, but what is certain is that his expected return against Arman Tsarykyan at UFC 308 on Oct. 26 in Abu Dhabi won’t be going down.

“Yes, he’s got a ligament injury, and he’s getting consultation from different doctors, and we’ll see what they say he has to do,” Mendez told Helen Yee. “But yeah, he’s not going to be able to train for a fight till probably late (November-December), or maybe January.

“It depends on what the UFC and him and can come up with, but he’s definitely not going to be able to fight in October like people are hoping.”

Although the event and date will have to change, Mendez is confident that Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) will remain as challenger, especially after Belal Muhammad won the welterweight title from Leon Edwards this past Saturday at UFC 304.

“I would think it would be the Arman rematch because I don’t see anything else in the horizon, being that Belal won the welterweight title,” Mendes said. “I seriously, seriously doubt that they would want to fight each other, so I think that changes the dynamic of going-for-two-belts situations.

“I think Arman was on point as far as the next opponent, anyway. That’s the fight I would want to happen, anyway.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Islam Makhachev reveals hand injury, possible surgery could delay next UFC title defense

Islam Makhachev has every intention of defending his UFC title against Arman Tsarukyan this year, but his health might say otherwise.

[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] has every intention of defending his UFC title against Arman Tsarukyan this year, but his health might say otherwise.

UFC lightweight champ Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) has revealed a lingering hand injury stemming from his fifth-round submission win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in June still is giving him issues – and is raising questions about whether he’ll be able to defend against Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) at UFC 308 on Oct. 26 in Abu Dhabi.

Makhachev said the UFC has yet to formally discuss the fight date with his team, but his expectation was to get back in the octagon this year. However, recent MRI results have now put his status in question.

“After the fight (with Poirier), my fists hurt, a lot of things hurt,” Makhachev told Ushatayka in Russian (HT/Championship Rounds on X). “We’ll take time. Everything is healing little by little. But my hand continues to bother me. An MRI recently confirmed that I have a partial ligament tear. Let’s see if I can recover. If not, I might even have to have surgery.

“It is questionable (if I will fight at UFC 308). We haven’t talked about the fight yet. I am doing rehabilitation every day now. And we’ll see how the hand goes.”

Makhachev is aware of the narratives from members of a section of the fanbase who claim he doesn’t compete frequently enough, despite the fact he’s fought at least twice a year every year since 2020. It’s not his desire to have an extended break from competition, but his recovery timetable may change that.

“I really want to perform before the end of the year,” Makhachev said. “I plan to. So far, I haven’t even thought about not performing. I want to come in shape, prepared, so that nothing bothers me. Before the last fight, there were also a lot of minor injuries. Everyone somehow accumulated. I want to give my body time to recover.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Khabib, Islam, Usman, Umar … Meet Amru Magomedov, next in succession in the Nurmagomedov dynasty

Meet the 25-year-old who could next become the household name crafted by Team Nurmagomedov.

The year was 2016 and Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov was holding a training session in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan.

[autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] was still two years away from winning gold, but the traction was starting to build. Something special was being crafted. The skill level in the Russian training room was elevated slightly each day, under Abdulmanap’s direction.

In that room stood a recent UFC debutant, [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag], fresh off a bounce-back win over Chris Wade. Soon-to-be professional debutants, brothers Usman and Umar Nurmagomedov also were among the pack.

There also was a 17-year-old, [autotag]Amru Magomedov[/autotag], a family friend of the Nurmagomedovs since childhood.

The lessons Magomedov learned as one of the younger guys in a room full of future legends and notables laid the foundation for what would eventually build into one of the world’s most promising prospects. Magomedov forever owes a lot to Abdulmanap and the teachings that continue to be passed down through fight generations.

“I have all the best memories working with Abdulmanap, training with him,” Magomedov told MMA Junkie, of his coach and mentor, who died in 2020. “I spent four years with him. Obviously, he was taking care of all the guys. He would come wake us up in the morning, making sure everybody is training in the morning and in the evening. He was all about discipline. He said, ‘It’s very important you guys be disciplined. You should follow the regiment and everything is going to be great. Make sure you go to sleep on time.’ So yeah, he definitely was the one who started this whole thing and I’m thankful to know him.”

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Over the next eight years, Magomedov traveled the world, assisting his training partners during massive championship fight weeks. He saw Khabib and Makhachev win UFC gold, Usman win Bellator gold, and Umar establish himself as a top UFC contender.

All the while, Magomedov absorbed knowledge and experience. The reps benefited his own abilities, which he’s showed seven times as a professional. In October, he clinched UAE Warriors lightweight gold and moved to 7-0 when he quickly submitted Jakhongir Jumaev.

Magomedov has never felt pressured, despite the predictions and expectations by those around him that he’ll be next to make an impact on the global stage. The legends and stars are just friends at work. He plans to do his job the same way they did.

“Well, it’s not as much pressure since I’ve known them for a while now,” Magomedov said. “I get motivation from them. They inspire me. I always tried since I started training to become champion. I want to be No. 1 and these guys are already at the top of their career, Khabib, Islam Makhachev, Umar, Usman. They are all pushing me forward and I always strive to be the best. So they’re very inspirational to me. Obviously, we have a lot of other guys in our gym that are on the same level and that are up and coming.”

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Magomedov, 25, headlines UAE Warriors 51 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi as he looks for his first title defense against Ali Kabdulla (9-2-1). He enters the fight with five finishes in seven appearances. His most recent two victories came over opponents with a combined 17-3 record.

If he wins, Magomedov hopes the UFC comes calling.

“I don’t want to consider any other leagues as of now,” Magomedov said. “I think if I put a spectacular fight and finish early on this Saturday, then I might have a good chance of getting into the UFC next.”

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Now under the guidance of Khabib, Magomedov takes his career one step at a time. But given the deeply-engrained mindset instilled in him nearly a decade ago by Abdulmanap, the aspirations and motivations are nothing short of championship.

“I think pretty much any fighter when they start their career have a goal and try to get into the UFC,” Magomedov said. “So far the way it is going, I think that’s where I’m going to be headed. I don’t just want to be another fighter in the UFC. Obviously, I want to become champion one day.”

This interview was conducted with the assistance of a Russian-language interpreter.

Leon Edwards’ coach, Dave Lovell, breaks down potential Islam Makhachev matchup

Dave Lovell thinks Islam Makhachev would struggle with fellow UFC champion Leon Edwards’ size.

Coach [autotag]Dave Lovell[/autotag] believes UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] would struggle with [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag]’ size.

Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) has reiterated interest in moving up to challenge welterweight champ Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC). The pair trained together years ago at American Kickboxing Academy. With Edwards’ recent title defenses coming over standout wrestlers such as Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman, Lovell is confident that Edwards would be able to handle Makhachev’s grappling prowess.

“Leon’s had a feel of him already because back in the day, they were at (American Kickboxing Academy) when they basically first started out their career, and they did have a little wrestle, along with Khabib and the rest of the boys,” Lovell told Submission Radio. “So you know, Islam moving up to welter, would he be big enough? Would he have the same effect that he has at his weight now? I don’t think so. Has he met a sharpshooter like Leon? No, he hasn’t. And again, what can Islam bring to Leon? Size wise, Leon’s physically bigger than him. Outreaches him.

“So again, he’s going to resort to what he knows, which is his wrestling. So it’s just unfortunate that you look at the last guys Leon fought: Usman twice, Colby, all wrestlers. Now Belal, wrestler. Islam, he’s not known for his striking. They’re known for their wrestling, and that’s basically – Leon’s improving. People don’t understand, which is what I told Ariel Helwani in the last interview. He said to me about the wrestling with Leon, and I said that everybody just may get shocked when Leon comes out against Colby and shows Colby and Usman his quality of wrestling, and he proved it to the world.”

Edwards will look to make his third title defense when he rematches Belal Muhammad (23-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 304 headliner at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

Like Makhachev, Edwards also has his sights set on dual-champion status, and Lovell sees that goal as attainable.

“One step at a time,” Lovell said. “But if that’s his plan, which is not a bad plan because we’ve got a few fighters that have done it and in the process of wanting to do it, so why should Leon be any different? He’s big enough that he could fill out to make a middleweight.

“I wouldn’t suggest he stays there, but if he can go up there and pick a fight where he can get a title win and then move back down to welterweight, well, that would be his dream to be fair right now. That’s his next move. But, you know, when that comes, we’ll look on obviously making that move.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.

Leon Edwards open to Islam Makhachev fight but also eyes middleweight: ‘Why not chase greatness?’

Leon Edwards wants to climb the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings by challenging himself even more.

[autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] wants to climb the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.

Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) defends his welterweight title in a rematch against Belal Muhammad in the UFC 304 headliner July 27 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. Edwards is currently ranked No. 4 in the official pound-for-pound rankings and is aiming to ascend.

“That’s my goal,” Edwards told talkSPORT MMA. “Obviously my first goal was to achieve this (UFC title), and now I’ve got it. I’ve got to make another goal, what’s going to get me up in the morning to go out there and achieve what I’m trying to achieve – the numbers, the money, the pound-for-pound rankings.”

Lightweight champ [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) has expressed his interest in challenging for the welterweight title on numerous occasions, and Edwards can see that fight happening.

But Edwards has the desire to move up a weight class himself.

“For sure, for sure,” Edwards said of fighting Makhachev. “I feel like we’ve both got work to do within our division. I feel Islam just fought his first actual lightweight (Poirier). He fought Volk, but this is his first actual lightweight he’s fought within the division.

“He’s on a three defense streak. After I beat Belal, that will be my third, as well, so we’re both on similar paths. I can see that happening in the future. Also, I would like to move up, as well, and challenge for the middleweight belt hopefully. I feel like I’d have the size for it and the skill for it, so why not chase greatness?”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.

Rafael dos Anjos on Islam Makhachev: ‘I don’t think he can beat Leon Edwards and become a double champion’

Rafael dos Anjos doesn’t like Islam Makhachev’s chances of becoming a UFC champ-champ.

[autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] doesn’t like [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]’s chances of becoming a UFC double champion.

Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC), who defended his lightweight title three times, has reiterated his interest in moving up to welterweight to challenge [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag].

Dos Anjos (32-16 MMA, 21-14 UFC), who has competed at both lightweight and welterweight throughout his career, thinks Makhachev would struggle with the size at a weight class above.

“He’s in a very good momentum right now, but I don’t think he can beat Leon Edwards and become a double champion,” dos Anjos told Submission Radio. “I just think like, the size difference. Leon is a much bigger guy, and we see smaller guys like (Dustin) Poirier giving Islam a lot of trouble.

“Poirier, he’s very tough, but he usually fights at 145, and he gave Islam a hard fight. Islam choked him in the fifth, I think. Poirier, you can see he’s a great fighter. I got a lot of respect for him. But if you see all his title defenses, like he got submitted, and I think he’s very weak on that point or like, his submission defense are not on point. Like, he always falls short on that aspect.”

Former lightweight champion dos Anjos plans on returning to 170 pounds after bouncing around weight classes in his past six fights. He has two particular names in mind for his next fight.

“I see Stephen Thompson, he doesn’t have a fight coming up,” dos Anjos said. “Kevin Holland doesn’t have a fight coming up. And those are good names, you know, like that make sense for me.”

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Beneil Dariush handicaps UFC champ Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan as ’60-40′ or ’55-45′ fight

Beneil Dariush thinks Arman Tsarukyan has what it takes to threaten Islam Makhachev’s UFC lightweight title reign.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] has what it takes to threaten [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]’s title reign.

It is expected that Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) will challenge lightweight titleholder Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) later this year in a rematch of an April 2019 bout from UFC Fight Night 149, which saw Makhachev leave with a unanimous decision win a highly-competitive affair.

Both men were young in the UFC at that time, but have come a long way since and will run it back at the top of the game. Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) is one of Tsarukyan’s most recent opponents, having suffered a 64-second knockout loss in their main event at UFC on ESPN 52 in December.

Although Makhachev is the current No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Dariush doesn’t think Tsarukyan is that far off.

“I thought he looked really good (against Charles Oliveira at UFC 300),” Dariush told MMA Junkie and other reporters during an interview on the 2024 UFC Hall of Fame red carpet. “I thought he looked really good against Charles. Charles is a very difficult fight for most people, and he was able to pull it off. I think he has a really good shot against Islam.”

Despite thinking Tsarukyan has a solid chance at taking the belt, Dariush struggles to fully commit to picking against Makhachev, and said the result will likely come down to some key variables.

“I would favor Islam, like a 60-45 or a 55-45,” Dariush said. “It’s going to be a close fight. I think Makhachev is better at energy conservation.”

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