Next year, reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will be able to make three title defenses, the first of which will take place in March, according to former UFC lightweight champion Daniel Cormier, who is a friend and teammate of the Russian.
“Oliveira will be next – we already know that,” the American said in another video published on his YouTube channel. “Dustin Porier said that if it’s Oliveira, who fought him and Gaethje, he’ll beat Makhachev. But let’s assume that in March Makhachev will pass Oliveira. Who will be next? Justin Gaethje. Gaethje has made it clear – he’ll be waiting for the title fight”
“Justin wants this fight as he thinks he has the right style to face Islam Makhachev. He feels that he learned things in his fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov that could lead him to success in a fight against Makhachev. Don’t forget – Gaethje took the first round from Khabib. Not many people have done that. The third, I think, will be Dustin Porier. Next year Islam Makhachev will have the opportunity to go through the thorns and face three of the most important representatives of the lightweight division in the last ten years”
Islam Makhachev, who successfully defended his championship belt in a superfight against Aleksander Volkanovski in October, has previously stated that he would like to compete before Ramadan and return to the octagon next March, but UFC CEO Dana White has made it clear that a fight between Makhachev and Oliveira is likely to take place in the summer.
In March, the world’s strongest league will host UFC 299, the main event of which is currently listed as a lightweight title fight between Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera.
Source: https://fighttime.ru/news/item/33261-korme-nazval-trekh-sopernikov-makhacheva-v-sleduyushchem-godu.html?rand=19907
