Islam Makhachev’s next opponent will be either Charles Oliveira or Justin Gaethje, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the UFC lightweight division rankings, respectively.
In an interview with the publication TASS reported the manager of the current UFC champion, Rizvan Magomedov.
“It will be either Justin Gaethje or Charles Oliveira,” Magomedov stated. “For me, as a manager and a fan, it would be more interesting for Gaitjie. It’s more interesting for the public, a new stage, a new challenge. With Oliveira everything went unilaterally, many doubt that he will be able to oppose Islam something. A fight with Gaethje would be something new.”
Thus, the Russian’s potential opponents are finally eliminated from the list of potential opponents, including current UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, who is rumored to face Belal Muhammad at UFC 300, as well as the fourth-ranked lightweight Arman Tsarukyan, who has reportedly already been offered a fight with one of the division’s top three.
Islam Makhachev last stepped into the octagon last October at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, knocking out Australian Alexander Volkanovski, who holds the featherweight title, in the first round.
According to the Russian fighter, he expects to compete at UFC 299, which takes place March 9 in Miami.
Source: https://fighttime.ru/news/item/33571-chislo-sopernikov-islama-makhacheva-ogranicheno-do-dvukh.html?rand=19907
