Islam Makhachev News

Cole Shelton - February 16, 2022

Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush will not be fighting next Saturday night after all. According to MMA reporter, Ariel Helwani and later confirmed by sources to BJPENN, Dariush suffered an injury and has been forced out of the fight. It’s uncertain if Makhachev will remain on the card or if another fight will headline next Saturday’s event.

Susan Cox - February 4, 2022

According to Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poiriers’ move to welterweight is only because he won’t ever be a lightweight champion. Poirier (28-7 MMA) lost to Charles Oliveira (32-8 MMA) at UFC 269 in December 2021, failing to earn the desired lightweight belt. It was Poiriers’ second attempt to gain the title,  his first attempt was back in 2019 at UFC 242, in Abu Dhabi, when he lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA).

Susan Cox - January 12, 2022

Javier Mendez, speaking on his YouTube channel has suggested that both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev would ‘dominate’ Charles Oliveira: “I know they both would beat Charles, in my opinion because look, they’re both my fighters,” Mendez said (h/t MMAJunkie). “Stylistically-wise, Islam could strike, he can kick. Khabib wasn’t a great kicker. Khabib would have to go straight to the grappling with Charles and probably dominate him there. As a matter of fact, I know he would. I know Khabib would dominate him there, and I kind of feel, my personal opinion, as great as Charles is, I think Islam would dominate him there. too.”

Cole Shelton - December 13, 2021

Islam Makhachev has taken a shot at Conor McGregor after the Irishman claimed he would be fighting for the title in his next fight. After Charles Oliveira beat Dustin Poirier at UFC 269, McGregor took to social media to say he will be fighting the Brazilian for the belt in his next fight. Of course, Justin Gaethje and the winner of Makhachev-Dariush are in line for the belt.

Adam D Martin - November 30, 2021

Top-ranked UFC lightweight contender Beneil Dariush broke down his upcoming UFC fight with divisional rival Islam Makhachev. Dariush vs. Makhachev was recently announced to be the headliner of the UFC Fight Night card that is set to take place on February 26. By all accounts, this will be a No. 1 contender fight at 155lbs, with the winner getting a title shot later in 2022 after Justin Gaethje gets his. On paper, this fight between Dariush and Makhachev looks like it has the chance to be a lot of fun, especially if it goes to the ground where both men are among the best.

Drake Riggs - November 29, 2021

Khabib Nurmagomedov won’t be changing his mind anytime soon when it comes to the UFC lightweight title picture. The former king of the division recently shared his thoughts on the matter when telling former challenger Justin Gaethje that he “fell asleep” in his lone undisputed opportunity. Despite a recent victory in an instant classic with Michael Chandler at UFC 268, Gaethje is behind Islam Makhachev in the pecking order according to “The Eagle.”

Adam Martin - November 28, 2021

UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev has opened up as a big betting favorite to defeat Beneil Dariush when they fight in early 2022. Makhachev vs. Dariush was officially announced this weekend, and the fight will take place on February 26 in what will be a five-round non-title main event. It goes without saying that this fight between Makhachev and Dariush is one of the biggest fights that the lightweight division currently offers, and it seems fair to assume the winner of this fight is going to get a title shot at 155lbs. Justin Gaethje is first up for the winner of UFC 269’s Charles Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier, and the winner of Makhachev/Dariush will be up next.

Christopher Taylor - November 27, 2021

Khabib Nurmagomedov was pushing for Islam Makhachev to receive a title shot following his submission victory over Dan Hooker at UFC 267. Despite the former champions campaign efforts, it was announced today that Makhachev (21-1 MMA) has been booked to fight fellow lightweight contender Beneil Dariush (21-4-1 MMA) in February.

Adam D Martin - November 26, 2021

UFC fighter Justin Gaethje revealed his plan to win the UFC lightweight title, and then make his first title defense against Islam Makhachev. Gaethje was not happy when UFC commentator Daniel Cormier suggested that Makhachev should be next in line to fight for the lightweight title after he beat Dan Hooker at UFC 267. As far as Gaethje goes, he is clearly the next man in line for the belt after beating Michael Chandler at UFC 268. So while he knows that Makhachev is a great fighter in his own right who deserves to fight for the belt, Gaethje is confident he should get the next title shot.

Drake Riggs - November 18, 2021

Justin Gaethje doesn’t believe Islam Makhachev has earned his shot at the UFC lightweight title. UFC 269 on Dec. 11 will see current champion Charles Oliveira attempt to defend against former interim titleholder Dustin Poirier. In the meantime, “The Highlight” and one of Dagestan’s finest make their cases.

Adam D Martin - November 14, 2021

Islam Makhachev responded after former UFC champ Eddie Alvarez said Justin Gaethje getting the next lightweight title shot “is only right.” Makhachev recently defeated Dan Hooker at UFC 267 to improve to 10-1 overall in the UFC with his current nine-fight win streak. Makhachev is clearly one of the best lightweight fighters in the world, and he is hoping to get the next title shot at 155lbs against the winner of UFC 269’s Charles Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier main event. However, after Gaethje defeated Michael Chandler at UFC 268 in a “Fight of the Year” candidate last weekend, there seems to be more support for Gaethje getting the next title shot. One of those supporters is his former UFC rival Alvarez, who took to his social media to stump for him.

Adam D Martin - November 9, 2021

UFC middleweight contender Marvin Vettori believes there is one lightweight fighter who could give Islam Makhachev “a lot of problems.” Vettori trains at Kings MMA alongside Beneil Dariush, who is one of the top-ranked lightweights in the sport. Speaking to Mike Swick recently on his podcast, Vettori said that he believes Dariush is the one man who can give Makhachev problems. Although Vettori admitted that Makhachev is a great fighter, he believes Dariush has the style to beat him.

Adam D Martin - November 8, 2021

UFC commentator Daniel Cormier believes that Justin Gaethje has earned the next UFC lightweight title shot over his teammate Islam Makhachev. Cormier and Gaethje recently got into it on social media after “The Highlight” accused DC of being biased during his commentary for the recent Makhachev vs. Dan Hooker fight. Following that match, which Makhachev won in an impressive fashion, Cormier suggested that he should be next in line to fight for the belt, and Gaethje felt that he was biased since they are teammates at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA). However, it now appears that DC has changed his tune and is now supporting Gaethje for the title shot.

Chris Taylor - November 6, 2021

Conor McGregor has lashed out at Islam Makhachev after discovering one of his old tweets from 2015. Just prior to McGregor’s interim featherweight title fight with Chad Mendes at UFC 189, Makhachev took to Twitter with the following statement “I can’t imagine that after all his talk, Conor loses”.

Adam D Martin - November 3, 2021

Islam Makhachev ripped Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler ahead of UFC 268, saying “everybody is tired about these guys because they’re old.” Makhachev put on arguably the best performance of his MMA career last Saturday at UFC 268 when he submitted Dan Hooker in the first round. Considering how tough and durable Hooker is — this was his first submission loss in nearly a decade — it was absolutely incredible to see Makhachev go through him like a knife through hot butter. It was the kind of win that the Russian needs in order to really cement himself as one of the top lightweights in the UFC. With a 10-1 record now in the promotion, including the nine-fight win streak that he currently rides, it’s clear that Makhachev is closing in on a title shot.

Adam D Martin - November 1, 2021

UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev trolled UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya after beating Dan Hooker at UFC 267. Makhachev absolutely smashed Hooker in their lightweight bout that took place at last Saturday’s UFC 267 card. The Russian took Hooker down immediately in the first round and began to go to work with his submissions, and soon afterward he was able to lock up the kimura and force Hooker to tap out. It was an absolutely phenomenal victory by Makhachev, who proved without a doubt that he is one of the top-five fighters in the UFC lightweight division. It was also the type of victory that gave Makhachev a lot more confidence in himself, and now he is taking shots at Hooker’s teammate in Adesanya.

Christopher Taylor - October 30, 2021

Daniel Cormier and Justin Gaethje were involved in a heated exchange on Twitter after ‘DC’ suggested Islam Makhachev should get a title fight. Makhachev (21-1 MMA) returned to action on today’s UFC 267 main card for a lightweight bout with perennial division contender Dan Hooker (21-11 MMA).

Christopher Taylor - October 30, 2021

Dan Hooker has reacted following his disappointing first round submission loss to Islam Makhachev at today’s UFC 267 event. Hooker (21-11 MMA) was making a quick turnaround today in Abu Dhabi. ‘The Hangman‘ had most previously competed five weeks ago at UFC 266, where he picked up a unanimous decision victory over Nasrat Haqparast. That win had snapped a two-fight losing skid for the Auckland native, who had previously suffered setbacks to Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler respectively.