Islam Makhachev has desired to move up to 170 lbs and compete for the welterweight gold in the UFC. However, he shall have to defend his lightweight title possibly a couple of more times. While Dana White announced Charles Oliveira vs Arman Tsarukyan for UFC 300, Justin Gaethje looks likely to be Isa Makhachev’s next.
The lightweight division doesn’t have a valid contender available for the lightweight title shot at the time, other than ‘The Highlight’. Makhachev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz recently sat down with ESPN and shed views on why Justin Gaethje should be the next opponent for the UFC lightweight champion.
Praising Gaethje, Ali Abdelaziz said, “I think it’s obvious man, Justin Gaethje. Well, he [Dana White] said, ‘fight Fiziev’, a nobody really know him. He then fought Fiziev. Go and fight Dustin Poirier. Boom, go and fight Dustin Poirier fight?. He is on a two-fight winning streak, phenomenal fighter, one of the greatest entertainment fighters we have ever seen. He have the BMF title now.
“Him and Islam, it’s history. He fought Khabib and now he is fighting Khabib’s prodigy.”
Justin Gaethje and Conor McGregor are the only two fighters to have won specific rounds against the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov. Gaethje overpowered ‘The Eagle’ in the very first round of their fight, per the judge’s scorecard. However, he ended up losing the bout vis submission. Five years later, it remains to be seen whether Justin Gaethje can beat Nurmagomedov’s successor Makhachev.
Islam Makhachev vs Justin Gaethje- Preview
Per the current lightweight scenario, no top-rated fighter is available other than Justin Gaethje to challenge Makhachev’s championship status. Meanwhile, Leon Edwards has hinted at defending his 170 lbs belt at UFC 300. Hence, Makhachev’s dream of moving up to 170 lbs for the title fight shall demand some more time.
Justin Gaethje currently holds the BMF title and is fresh off a KO win over Dustin Poirier. He is undoubtedly one of the hardest strikers at 155 lbs and can knock any man out cold. But beating Islam Makhachev would be very demanding and that’s what makes this matchup a fun-feast for the entire combat community.
