Islam Makhachev nonetheless stands tall atop the UFC light-weight division.
Makhachev fended off a ferocious effort from Dustin Poirier at UFC 302, choking out the previous interim champion with a fifth-round D’arce choke to efficiently defend his UFC light-weight title on the Prudential Heart in Newark, NJ. It was an exhilarating affair, one which instantly joins the quick record for 2024’s Battle of the 12 months, and it buoyed up a UFC 302 card that in any other case lacked in massive moments — even when the champ would like in any other case.
“I believe I saved this card immediately,” Makhachev mentioned with amusing at UFC 302’s post-fight press convention. “As a result of all these fights [were] boring and the entire area [was] virtually asleep. And we confirmed with Dustin [a] nice efficiency.
“Actually, it’s an excellent battle, however I don’t like when you may have the minimize, all the things is ache now, tomorrow I believe it’s going to be extra ache. However Dustin is a canine. He’ll chunk, kick, punch. Completely satisfied to complete him, however this man is without doubt one of the finest, nonetheless probably the greatest on the planet.”
Makhachev, 32, did certainly must dig deep to dispatch Poirier. Regardless of dominating the battle early, Makhachev needed to overcome a second wind from his American challenger, particularly after Poirier opened a large minimize on Makhachev’s face within the center rounds. But with blood pouring down his face, Makhachev tapped into his championship meddle and secured the fight-ending choke with a beautiful sequence within the bout’s ultimate minutes.
“I believe it’s my first minimize,” Makhachev mentioned. “It’s OK. That is MMA, this isn’t soccer, not basketball. That is MMA. We battle, attempt to crush one another, beat one another, and Dustin immediately gave me a tough time.”
With a 3rd title protection now beneath his belt, Makhachev strikes right into a five-way tie for essentially the most consecutive defenses of the light-weight belt in UFC historical past, becoming a member of B.J. Penn, Benson Henderson, Frankie Edgar, and his longtime mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov. Yet one more win and Makhachev will take sole possession of a document that has lengthy appeared inconceivable for anybody within the division to succeed in. But when the champ had his druthers, he’d go a unique route.
His major aim stays to maneuver as much as welterweight and seize a second UFC title.
“I don’t observe the [people who say I] beat some document or one thing like this. If you need an awesome legacy, it’s a must to get second belt. It’s my opinion,” Makhachev mentioned.
“Who doesn’t need to be double champion? That is historical past. What number of double champs [do] we have now? This can be a dream for all fighters to get [a] second belt. That is my dream.”
Makhachev might have to attend for the prospect to meet that dream, nonetheless.
UFC CEO Dana White introduced Saturday evening that the promotion is involved in reserving a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan for Makhachev’s subsequent battle. Makhachev beforehand defeated Tsarukyan by way of unanimous resolution in Tsarukyan’s short-notice UFC debut in 2019.
White additionally expressed a willingness to entertain the concept of Makhachev difficult for a second belt, however both manner, the champ is able to tackle regardless of the UFC decides.
“Dana has my quantity. Simply name me and put some new problem [in front of me],” Makhachev mentioned.
“It [doesn’t] make sense when you may have rematch, I would like some new problem. But when Dana desires [the Tsarukyan rematch], let’s do it. No drawback.”
