Islam Makhachev is calling his shot, when it comes to the UFC lightweight strap.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protege would make his case for a title shot with a quick win over Bobby Green on Saturday. It might not have been against a top 5 contender like Beneil Dariush, but Makhachev made it look easy against a very game Green.
‘I Am Deserving’
Being on the insane winning streak he is currently on, the Dagestani’s dreams of title contention may soon be a reality. Makhachev believes he deserves the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje.
“I am deserving,” Makhachev said at the UFC Vegas 49 post-fight presser. “I have a 10-fight win streak. I deserve it. The last 11 months, I’m training so hard. Like next week, I’m ready for fight on the next pay-per-view show but I deserve [some time].
“I want to fight in Abu Dhabi. Because just now, I have many of my friends who stay outside because they cannot come to the [UFC] Apex. I want to fight in Abu Dhabi when all my fans can come and support me inside.”
Prediction For The Next Title Fight
Wanting a crack at the belt, Makhachev would make his prediction off who wins the next lightweight title fight between Oliveira and Gaethje.
“I think it’s going to be a good fight because both guys are high level. Now Charles improved his striking game very well. He has more [skills] than Justin in the ground game.
“I think they’re going to strike a little bit and Charles is going to take him down, take his back and finish him there, like, third round or second round. I think this my opinion.”
Makhachev vs. Oliveira
With Oliveira in his sights, the top contender details what a fight with the champ would look like.
“I think it’s going to be a good match,” Makhachev said. “Because this guy is good in striking, wrestling and grappling but I’m going to make him tired, pressure him and make him give up. Because I know this guy, he don’t like when somebody go with him for like three or four rounds, give him hard punch, a hard time and when he tries to finish someone, like give them some choke, but when he cannot do this he gives up all the time.
“I have grappling skills more than him because I’m grappling with all high level grapplers around the world. A lot of grapplers come to [AKA] and I like grappling. This guy, he’s going to try to finish me on the ground but it’s going to be so hard for him.”
