UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is ready to face Arman Tsarukyan next for his belt, but he may now produce other ideas as a super-fight prospect emerges.
The dominant Dagestani is ready to interrupt the record for many lightweight title defences within the UFC should he win his next fight. And that has been resulting from be Tsarukyan, whom he already defeated back in 2019 at a Fight Night in Russia.
But after suffering an injury during his latest defence against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in Latest Jersey, it seems that he could also be out for an prolonged time period. And within the meantime, he’s keen to call a more exciting contender, teasing a possible fight with BMF champion Max Holloway.
Islam Makhachev faces surgery after injury at UFC 302
During his last world title defence, Islam Makhachev seems to have suffered a serious injury to his hand, which is able to likely cost him an historic night within the Middle East at UFC 308. He had been tentatively resulting from face Arman Tsarukyan at that Abu Dhabi pay-per-view in a serious rematch.
But now he might be set for surgery, telling Ushatayka in Russian: “After the fight, my fists hurt, quite a lot of things hurt. We’ll take time. All the pieces is healing little by little. But my hand continues to trouble me. An MRI recently confirmed that I even have a partial ligament tear.
“Let’s see if I can get better. If not, I would even must have surgery.” Asked about the potential of competing at UFC 308, he replied: “It’s questionable. We haven’t talked in regards to the fight yet. I’m doing rehabilitation day by day now. And we’ll see how the hand goes.”
Islam Makhachev keen to fight Max Holloway as a substitute of Arman Tsarukyan in next fight
Despite Tsarukyan seeming to earn his spot as the highest contender for the title, Makhachev appears to have named a brand new contender. It appears that evidently Max Holloway is ready to face Ilia Topuria for the featherweight world title, after winning the BMF belt from Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.
And Makhachev reckons that if he reclaims featherweight gold, Holloway could find yourself overtaking Tsarukyan within the meantime in an effort to change into two-division champion. During a fan Q&A in Abu Dhabi, Makhachev was asked in regards to the potential bout, and replied “Why not?”
“I already beat Arman,” he explained further. “If UFC puts him next, that’s no problem. But, I’m not excited much. I would like latest name, latest challenger, I already beat Arman. If Max wants, let’s do it. I don’t need his [BMF] belt, but Max is a very good name. It’s going to be a crazy fight for the fans.”
Arman Tsarukyan could face Dustin Poirier in interim title fight
Should Makhachev require surgery and be out of motion for the foreseeable future, it’s possible the UFC would want to put in an interim champion. And while Tsarukyan can be nailed on as a certainty, a surprising latest addition might be made.
Speaking with MMA Junkie, Dustin Poirier made his case for the potential matchup, which might once more take him into the discussion for his long-time goal of winning undisputed gold. “I’m speculated to have surgery on my nose in October,” he began.
“But like, if I’ve made a call or something popped up I could push it back or whatever. I’m just pondering, who’s there for me to fight, but I’ve just got to do the 30 days, get in shape and get back on the mats hard, I haven’t been in a position to grapple.
“I could fight at the tip of the 12 months. If I felt good after the 30 days and there’s an enormous opportunity. The names, obviously the opponent matters big time but, where the timing and the position on the cardboard and stuff like that, those come into play as well.”
And when the subject of Makhachev’s injury got here up, he added: “I ponder what they’re gonna do with that, is Arman gonna proceed to attend for Islam, I don’t know when Islam’s gonna be back but I saw a thing that said he might need to have surgery.
“So we’ll see, man. The lightweight division has been so crazy over these past years. Yeah needless to say [an interim title fight] interests me.”
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