Sean Strickland warns ‘good dude’ Islam Makhachev on middleweight move

Sean Strickland’s response to Islam Makhachev contemplating middleweight was shocking.

UFC light-weight champion Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) insists on fulfilling his purpose of changing into dual-champion earlier than he calls it a profession. However along with his buddy and coaching associate Belal Muhammad presently holding the UFC welterweight strap, his plans have been momentarily placed on maintain.

That had Makhachev considering leaping as much as 185 kilos, which middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis cautioned him about. Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) challenges Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in a title-fight rematch, which headlines UFC 312 Feb. 8 at Qudos Financial institution Area in Sydney (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).

If Strickland is victorious, would he think about welcoming Makhachev to 185 kilos?

“We fought on the identical card as soon as, proper? Bro, I really actually like that man,” Strickland instructed MMA Junkie of Makhachev. “He’s really a extremely f*cking good dude, which is humorous as a result of I believe a number of Muslims don’t like me as a result of I discuss a number of sh*t. However he’s a superb dude.

“Once more, there’s weight courses for a f*cking cause. Keep in your weight class, perhaps do 170, however there are weight courses for a f*cking cause, dude. I don’t need to discuss an excessive amount of sh*t on you as a result of I such as you, however keep in your weight class.”

Makhachev and Strickland shared the UFC 302 card in June, the place Makhachev retained his light-weight title by submitting Dustin Poirier, and Strickland defeated Paulo Costa to earn a rematch in opposition to Du Plessis. Makhachev defended his light-weight title for an organization file fourth time when he submitted Renato Moicano in Spherical 1 at UFC 311 earlier this month.

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 312.