Cormier: "I've been saying for a long time that Makhachev needs bigger opponents"

American mixed martial arts titlist Daniel Cormier believes that UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev should have high-profile fights to develop his career.

Makhachev will fight Dustin Puryear on June 1 at UFC 300 in Newark, N.J., USA.

"I've been saying for a long time that Makhachev needs bigger opponents. Now Islam won't fight Gaethje because the latter lost to Holloway. But he needs big names! He needed a fight against Oliveira because that's a recognizable fighter.

Islam needs to fight Conor or Chandler because those are big names. They will help Makhachev get to the next level. He needs a fight with Porier because Dustin is a celebrity. Tsarukyan's name, on the other hand, is unknown to the general public. Hopefully, Islam will benefit from the fight against Porier," Cormier said in a fresh edition of the author's YouTube channel.