Islam Makhachev ahead of a weigh-in prior to the UFC Fight Night 163 at the CSKA Arena. Valery Sharifulin/TASS PUBLICATIONxINxGERxAUTxONLY TS0C243F
Manager Ali Abdelaziz has already lined up the next fight for his client Islam Makhachev
Islam Makhachev had to sweat it out against Thiago Moises in the main event of UFC Vegas 31. Though the Russian was the clear favourite going into the fight, he had to toil to get that ‘decisive’ finish.
In the fourth round, Makhachev executed a rear-naked choke, thereby making Moises tap out. This was Makhachev’s eighth straight victory in the UFC, and he has been unbeaten since 2015.
His manager, Dominance MMA CEO Ali Abdelaziz was beyond-elated as he heaped praise on his fast-rising client.
Abdelaziz then claimed that UFC lightweight veteran Tony Ferguson had expressed his desire to fight Makhachev.
He also asked UFC President Dana White to finalise the deal.
Abdelaziz’s tweets read:
“@TonyFergusonXT islam ask me about your location @MAKHACHEVMMA.”
“@danawhite also Let’s finish this deal.”
Makhachev’s rise to the top has been slow but unreal. His devastating KO defeat against Adriano Martins at UFC 192 had him down and out. But he has come back like a phoenix ever since.
At the post-fight interview, Makhachev called out Rafael dos Anjos, whom he accused of ducking a while ago.
Then, in a backstage interview with Brett Okamoto of ESPN, Makhachev divulged that a fight against Michael Chandler would also interest him, while not writing off Tony Ferguson as well.
Makhachev’s ranking and performances in the lightweight division have been going from strength to strength. Now come the real challenges.
The opponents Makhachev will be facing from now onwards will be those who are ranked above him.
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