Following his win over veteran Dustin Poirier in the fifth round at UFC 302, Islam Makhachev called out his next opponent as the lightweight champion.
Dana White assigned Poirier as the most recent contender for Makhachev’s championship belt, as the former interim champion pursued a chance to win the undisputed UFC title.
The two men exchanged heated trash talk in the buildup to the fight, with their UFC 302 press conference ending in an intense stare-down.
Throughout fight week, Poirier acknowledged his impending retirement multiple times, recognizing that at 35 years old, his time in the sport was coming to an end.
Despite this, ‘The Diamond’ continued to approach his main event fight against Makhachev with the same reckless abandon that he had displayed in his previous 38 fights throughout his illustrious MMA career.
From the start of the match, Poirier effectively defended Makhachev’s takedowns and even had noticeable success while they were standing.
The Russian technician remained relentless, consistently pushing the tempo and not giving Poirier a chance to catch his breath.
As the fifth and final round of the fight began, the challenger made one final attempt to gain the upper hand, but Makhachev quickly turned the tide and gained control of his opponent’s back.
The current lightweight champion successfully executed a D’Arce choke, resulting in Poirier tapping out while Makhachev’s team rushed into the octagon to celebrate.
Islam Makhachev wins by Power D’arce. Slick transition from arm guillotine. Main event did not disappoint. pic.twitter.com/Ep3TbYdBox
— Jack Krucial – The Combat Therapist🥷🏽武 (@CombatTherapist) June 2, 2024
True to his usual manner, Makhachev demonstrated humility in his win, offering Poirier a pat on the back and acknowledging him as a UFC legend.
After exchanging pleasantries, Joe Rogan inquired about Makhachev’s desired opponent for his next fight.
Champion Islam Makhachev Calls Out Leon Edwards for His Next Fight
In reaction, Makhachev challenged UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards to a super fight between champions.
In a conversation with Rogan, Makhachev expressed his desire to fight for a second belt, stating that it has always been his dream and he longs to experience that same energy once more.
Defending your belt doesn’t have the same feeling, which is why I need a new one.
Islam Makhachev wants to challenge for the UFC Welterweight Championship! 🏆pic.twitter.com/rzvlsLUjwp
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) June 2, 2024
Edwards is set to preserve his 170-pound title when he takes on Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in Manchester, England, later this year.
Currently ranked as the third best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, Edwards, an Englishman, has maintained an undefeated streak for almost ten years.
If he manages to retain his title against Muhammad, a potential bout between Makhachev and Edwards would be highly anticipated and could go down as one of the most highly anticipated matchups in the history of the UFC.
Given the history of UFC match-ups, it is highly likely that White will pit the two champions against each other. However, a previous opponent of Makhachev argues that he deserves a rematch before facing anyone else.
Arman Tsarukyan’s desire for a rematch against Makhachev
Initially, Arman Tsarukyan had a friendly rapport with the champion, particularly following his UFC debut against Makhachev in 2019.
Despite Tsarukyan’s strong performance, Makhachev narrowly defeated him with a unanimous decision victory in the highly anticipated “Fight of the Night”match.
Despite their initial connection, the dynamic between them deteriorated at some point, resulting in heated insults and criticism in the following years.
As the date of UFC 302 approached, Tsarukyan persisted in his calls for a title shot against Makhachev, and this remained true even after the event had concluded.
“Tsarukyan congratulated Islam on their achievement, as seen on X. However, they should not attempt to switch to a different division.”
“You have only defended your title against a true lightweight once, and I am next in line.”
Although a Tsarukyan rematch against Makhachev may not generate as much interest as a champion vs champion fight, the Armenian’s argument is valid.
After becoming the champion by defeating Charles Oliveira in Oct. 2022, Makhachev has faced Alexander Volkanovski, a former featherweight champion, on two occasions and emerged victorious both times.
However, Makhachev’s bout against Poirier marked the division’s first legitimate title defense, and White is notorious for strictly enforcing such matters.
At the UFC 302 post-fight press conference, the CEO stated that the next fight to make is most likely between Makhachev and Tsarukyan.
🚨| Dana White says he believes Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan is the fight to make next, however, he did not rule out letting Islam have a shot at welterweight gold.#UFC302 pic.twitter.com/eWlFGLRqvW
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) June 2, 2024
Regardless, Makhachev has expressed his desire to become a two-weight champion. The decision of what’s next for the champ rests in the hands of UFC matchmakers.
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