UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev claims he never turned down an offer to fight Rafael dos Anjos on short notice last weekend. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Makhachev (22-1), who defeated Bobby Green in a UFC Fight Night main event on Feb. 26, publicly offered to face dos Anjos in a 170-pound fight last weekend, when dos Anjos’ original opponent contracted COVID-19. The fight ultimately didn’t come together, and dos Anjos (31-13) went on to defeat Renato Moicano instead.
UFC president Dana White told media members last week that Makhachev turned the dos Anjos fight down, but Makhachev said he was the one who asked for it.
“I was in California on vacation, and I called my manager and said, ‘Please call the UFC, I am ready to take this fight,'” Makhachev told ESPN. “I asked about some conditions, very small conditions, nothing big or not possible to do. It was not the UFC calling me. I wanted this fight, but the UFC did not do it. That’s it.”
Makhachev, a teammate and protégé of retired legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, declined to say what “conditions” he requested, but reiterated they were not significant.
In addition to claiming Makhachev turned down the dos Anjos fight, White said the UFC will look to book his next bout against No. 4-ranked lightweight Beneil Dariush. Makhachev said he believes Dariush is world class, but isn’t interested in anything but a title fight at this time.
“(White) can say whatever he wants, it doesn’t matter,” Makhachev said. “I’m going to fight anyone, because I’m going to be a champion and I’ll fight all the Top 10. I’m going to beat all these guys. When I take this belt, I’m going to beat dos Anjos, all these guys, but UFC has a show in Abu Dhabi [in the fall] and I think I’m deserving.
“If (current champion) Charles Oliveira beats Justin Gaethje (in May), it would be an 11-fight win streak vs. 10-fight win streak. This is similar to Khabib vs. Tony Ferguson. This is biggest fight in lightweight division.”
Oliveira will seek his second title defense against Gaethje at UFC 274 on May 7 in Phoenix. Beyond that, the next title challenger at lightweight is unclear. White has suggested it could be Conor McGregor, who is expected to return from the broken leg he suffered in 2021 later this year. Makhachev said he’s not concerned about that possibility.
“I think this is fake,” Makhachev said. “It’s for the fans, to make something interesting. It’s going to be hard for him to make 155 (pounds) because he’s drunk all day. A lot of people will smash him. He is going to fight Nate Diaz or some old people to make some money. He’s never going to be champion again.”
Makhachev, 30, said his long term goal is to win the lightweight belt later this year, defend it three to five times and then move up to welterweight to seek a second title.