Islam Makhachev, UFC lightweight champion, explained the choice of opponent for the nearest title defense.
"Honestly, no. Dustin is a good opponent. Because I've already beaten Oliveira and Tsarukyan in my time. My dream fight in the lightweight division is Justin Gaethje, but he lost to Holloway. Now only Porier is left among worthy opponents. Arman refused to fight, Oliveira and Gaethje lost. We had no other choice," Makhachev said in an interview with TMZ Sports.
The fight between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Puryear will take place on June 1 at UFC 302 in Newark (USA).
Recall, earlier it became known that Makhachev's opponent could become Tsarukyan, but he refused to fight.
Arman Tsarukyan, the number one UFC lightweight ranking, compared Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov to each other.
"In some aspects Islam is better, in some aspects Khabib is better. It's hard to compare like that. But in terms of media and his opposition - Khabib is on another level. Plus Khabib didn't have the kind of man behind him that Islam has behind him. Islam was top 10, beat Bobby Green and made it to the top 5. How is that possible? I think it's at Khabib's expense. Islam's title fight after such opposition is also a credit to Khabib. Plus they fight a lot in Abu Dhabi. So the UFC is interested in Islam," said Tsarukyan.
Recall, earlier Tsarukyan urged not to make a superhero out of Makhachev.
Islam Makhachev, UFC lightweight champion, revealed what topic they never talk about with Khabib Nurmagomedov, the promotion's former champion in the division.
"We've never talked about it. We don't even have thoughts about it. Who is better, who is stronger... We just help each other become champions. That's all it is. We don't talk about the level of greatness, the number of title defenses. Our relationship is above fights and money," Makhachev said in an interview with TMZ Sports.
Islam Makhachev will make his next title defense on June 1. His opponent will be the organization's former interim lightweight champion Dustin Porier.
Mike Perry, former UFC fighter and current BKFC fist league fighter, has once again challenged Darren Till, former UFC middleweight.
"Darren Till! You fat fucking dog, get your ass over here or I'm out in the UK. Nate Diaz is fighting Jorge Masvidal in some fucking battle of the coasts. We should fight," Perry stated.
It's worth noting that Perry defeated Thiago Alves in the main event of BKFC's No. 61 and has since challenged Till.
Till last appeared in the octagon in December 2022. Then he lost by submission to Dricus Du Plessis. This defeat was the third consecutive loss for the British fighter.
UFC ranked lightweightMichael Chandler has spoken out about his upcoming fight with Conor McGregor, the promotion's former two weight class champion.
"The most likely scenario is I'm going to go out there and completely dismantle him, and that's probably the last time we'll see Conor fight. I can't lose to a guy who's been out for three years. I can't lose to a guy who's been written off. I can't lose to a guy who gave up and is sleeping on silk sheets on his Lamborghini yacht. I can't lose to that guy," Chandler said on The MMA Hour program.
Recall, the fight Chandler - McGregor will take place on June 29 in the framework of the tournament UFC 303 in Las Vegas (USA).
Arman Tsarukyan, the No. 1 ranked light heavyweight in the UFC, admitted that he would like to have a bout with the organization's former two-weight champion Conor McGregor.
"Of course it's possible. If Conor beats Chandler now and I win the title, it could be that we fight. I have to make a name, though, and I'm going to make it on McGregor. A fight with Conor is very good for the media. Khabib, on the other hand, made a name for himself on Conor," Tsarukyan stated.
Tsarukyan had his last fight on April 14. As part of the 300th anniversary event, Arman won a split decision over former promotion lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.
Arman Tsarukyan, the UFC lightweight title challenger, responded to a question about whether he would be mentally tough going into a rematch with Islam Makhachev, the organization's featherweight champion.
"No, not at all. It's morally hard to fight a close friend or relative. As far as the others - no difference at all. Pavlovic and Volkov trained together, know each other well, are friends. We have a history of confrontation. Let's see who will be better this time," Tsarukyan said.
Earlier Tsarukyan said that it is not necessary to make a superhero and invincible fighter out of Makhachev, remember that Islam has already lost.
Makhachev and Tsarukyan have already met in the octagon, and then Islam beat Arman by unanimous decision of judges.
Arman Tsarukyan, a top UFC lightweight, spoke out about a rematch with the organization's champion in the division, Islam Makhachev.
"It's rare very rare. If I don't see him, I don't remember him. In principle, I don't remember the fights I lost. We have to go out and fight, interrupt him on the counter. You have to put the right game plan and beat him. That's it. I already tried that. I tried to move him, spent a lot of energy on it, even though I was much better in the standup. There's no point. It's better not to think of anything, to try to beat him in the stand-up. Of course, you have to show that you're going to go through on the feet. But even if you do, it's better to let him go, so as not to lose strength. The preparation is all the same. It's the people in their heads who have made up in their heads that Islam is special. The same person, and they made him an undefeated champion. Although he lost too, he was knocked out too. We are all human beings, we can all lose. There is no need to make an undefeated superhero out of Makhachev...," Tsarukyan said.
Traditionally, the UFC promotion gives out bonuses after each of its tournaments. UFC On ESPN 55, which took place this morning in Las Vegas, was no exception. Bogdan Guskov, Alex Perez, Jonatha Diniz and Uros Medich each received $50,000 in bonuses, winning the "Performance of the Night" category. That said, none of the card's bouts were recognized as the "Fight of the Night."
Alex Perez won by second-round knockout over Mateus Nicolau in the main event of the tournament. And Bogdan Guskov in the co-main event won by TKO in the second round against Ryan Spann.
Recall, the next tournament will be numbered, UFC 301, and will be held on May 4 in Rio de Janeiro.
Former WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has spoken out about the possibility of a fight with current holder of these belts Oleksandr Usyk.
"I would love to fight Usik, but I don't think he's number one on the fans' wish list. You know, I'll fight anyone, and at the same time the promoters want me to fight certain people. And like I said, the fighters they want me to fight would be from the 5-on-5 card that's on June 1, and then they're considering a fight with Tyson Fury.
I'd like to fight Usik, I'd like to fight Ruiz, but I think the fans want me to face Fury," Boxing Social quoted Josh as saying.
