LAS VEGAS – Islam Makhachev isn’t looking past Thiago Moises, but he is already making plans for what comes next with a victory.
Makhachev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, recently suggested a bout against Rafael dos Anjos would make sense, especially since the two were scheduled twice to meet late last year.
Makhachev likes the idea, as well, but isn’t so sure the former UFC lightweight champion will accept the matchup – especially with dos Anjos recently requesting fights with Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“RDA is good for me next, but this guy always ran,” Makhachev told MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s media session at the UFC Apex. “Now he says, ‘I want to fight with Conor or Khabib, and last week, Conor slapped him at the weigh-in, and he did nothing. This guy always ran. This guy is old. Yeah, I understand him. He want to make money, but I want to help him retire.”
Makhachev (19-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) has other business to handle first, facing Moises (15-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) in the headlining bout of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 26 event, which takes place at the UFC Apex. The full card airs live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
Makhachev said he knows he’s in for a tough fight.
“He has good skills,” Makhachev said. “He’s good everywhere. Because my last opponent had a very good striking game and everybody knows about his wrestling, grappling, but this guy has good striking, good grappling.”
Currently sitting at No. 7 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie lightweight rankings, Makhachev is hoping to break into the division’s elite with a victory in his first UFC main event. He’d like to make a statement with a big finish of Moises but says going a full five rounds wouldn’t be the worst thing for him, especially since he thinks five-round fights will be the norm for him moving forward.
“I have to finish him, but you know, five rounds, this is my first five rounds,” Makhachev said. “If I go with all rounds, maybe it is going to be good for me, too, because this is a big experience. I never fight five rounds.”
With a big win, Makachev may be able to call a few shots. Often called a future champion by his longtime teammate Nurmagomedov, Makachev says he wants to fight anyone that will get him closer to the title – and he thinks a former champion in dos Anjos could fit that bill.
Fellow UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker, not so much.
“You know, Dan Hooker posted something today, ‘If Islam wins this fight and calls me out, I like it,’ but who is Dan Hooker, you know?” Makhachev said. ” I need someone who will bring me to call for the belt, but I don’t think Hooker is a big step for me.”
To hear the full interview with Makhachev, check out the video above.
Loading…
Islam Makhachev wants to help Rafael dos Anjos retire, asks ‘Who is Dan Hooker?’
