This was announced in an interview with Red Corner MMA by a friend, sparring partner and trainer of the Russian fighter, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“I think Islam should have at least five defenses, maybe even six – six defenses would be perfect,” said the former UFC champion. “Six defenses, these are six fights, three years – then the sport can leave a person, because no one can stay at the peak in the same state for a long time. The Almighty created man in such a way that he becomes strong, then weak, he is born, first he is young, then old. We all understand this, so the goal is five or six defenses.
Islam Makhachev will make his first defense of his title on February 12 at UFC 284 in Perth, and his opponent will be the leader of the P4P UFC rating, Australian Alexander Volkanovski, who owns the UFC featherweight championship belt.