The recently crowned UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev risks angering the fanbase following recent comments.
This past November at UFC 322, Islam Makhachev became the newest fighter to win a title in two different weight classes when he dethroned Jack Della Maddalena to turn out to be the brand new welterweight champion.
Together with his win, the Russian returned to the summit of the pound-for-pound rankings, knocking Ilia Topuria back off top spot, somewhat continuing their rivalry.
Nonetheless, following his legendary win, the Russian champion angered the fanbase when he revealed who he would really like to defend his 170lb title against first.
Is Islam Makhachev still the pound-for-pound primary fighter within the UFC?
Makhachev doubles down on why he desires to fight Kamaru Usman next
Also on the UFC 322 card were several highly ranked welterweight contenders, including Michael Morales and Carlos Prates, and just every week later, Ian Machado Garry picked up an enormous win over Belal Muhammad.
Nonetheless, despite the litany of high-level contenders atop of the division, Makhachev announced that he desires to fight former UFC welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, next.
This caused huge uproar amongst the UFC fanbase considering the undeniable fact that Usman is 1-3 in his last 4 fights, along with his only win having come against Joaquin Buckley, who’s currently only rank 10 within the division.
Despite the outrage, Makhachev has doubled down on wanting to fight ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ next, explaining why he believes he’s probably the most worthy contender.
“I said that I desired to fight Kamaru Usman next. Although the media doesn’t imagine on this fight as I can see, but in my view, Usman would steamroll through each of those up-and-comers like Morales, Prates, the striker (Machado Garry),” Makhachev told Red Corner MMA.
“Those guys haven’t been checked yet. I believe Usman could be the toughest fight for me, and by way of media, we could construct it up, like a former champion, probably the most title defenses in my weight division, we could promote this fight well and make it fun to look at.
“As for Buckley, he was considered one of the contenders and Usman simply took him apart and everybody has already forgotten about this guy but when Buckley won, he would’ve been 100% primary contender.”
Does Kamaru Usman should fight Islam Makhachev after the whole lot he’s completed?
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Prates now targeting former champion with Makhachev locked in on Usman
The favored Brazilian, Prates, was hopeful that after becoming the primary fighter to knock out Leon Edwards, he would’ve earned the title shot.
Nonetheless, with Makhachev seemingly all-in on fighting Usman, ‘The Nightmare’ has declared that he would really like to fight Della Maddalena next in one other title eliminator.
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