Former dual UFC champion, Daniel Cormier, explained why current UFC lightweight titleholder, Islam Makhachev, wants Justin Gaethje as his next opponent rather than Charles Oliveira or Arman Tsarukyan.
“He said, ‘I need new challenges,’ and that immediately makes you think that Islam doesn’t want a rematch with Tsarukyan,” the American said in another video posted on his Youtube channel. “This is where we make a mistake when we watch this interview. Because when the reporter further asks, ‘Islam, are you going to fight until you’re 40?’ he says he’s going to do it for a couple more years, no more”
“That’s why I think Islam is doing the right thing by not wanting to do rematches. Because if he’s going to compete for two more years, do we want to see him keep facing the same opponents? Or do we prefer to see him face new opponents every time?”
Two days earlier, Islam Makhachev had announced that he wanted to defend his title against division number two Justin Gaethje, and was going to discuss this with the organization’s management in Las Vegas, where he arrived the day before.
Also, the Russian fighter, who tops the UFC’s P4P rankings, has not given up hope of getting a fight with the winner of the welterweight title fight between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington, and plans to attend the matchup in person, which will headline UFC 296 on Dec. 16.
Source: https://fighttime.ru/news/item/33375-korme-ob-yasnil-pochemu-makhachev-izbegaet-revanshej-s-olivejroj-i-tsarukyanom.html?rand=19907
