UFC lightweightBeneil Dariush believes he can beat any fighter in the world, including the promotion's featherweight champion Islam Makhachev.
"I truly believe I can beat anyone in the world. Including Makhachev, or anyone else in a title fight. There is no doubt in my mind that I can do it. Things have not been going the way I had hoped lately. But I've been in this position before and turned things around. True, I'm older now, and everyone says, "Nah, he can't do it." But they said the same thing last time. If God wants to perform a miracle, he performs a miracle. That's how I live my life," Dariush said in an interview with MMA Junkie.
Michael Chandler, the UFC's ranked lightweight, revealed when he could fight the promotion's current featherweight champion Islam Makhachev.
"Islam isn't just fighting for himself, he's fighting for a whole country. He's fighting for Khabib's legacy, he's fighting for Khabib's father's legacy - his motivation is much deeper than that. I think he will defend the title against Porier, he will defend the title against Tsarukyan, and we will fight him in the first quarter of next year," the fighter said in an interview with Ariel Helwani.
Islam Makhachev will have his next fight on June 1 against Dustin Porier. As for Chandler, he will face former two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor on June 29.
Grant Dawson, an American UFC fighter, shared his opinion about the organization's current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. In particular, Dawson reminded that Makhachev lost by knockout to not the top opponent.
"A lot of fighters have lost to guys that on paper they should have destroyed. Islam Makhachev is considered the second coming of Jesus Christ to the MMA world, but he was knocked out by a guy who then lost seven fights in a row. So things happen here," MMA Junkie quoted Dawson as saying.
Islam Makhachev will take on Dustin Porier in his next fight. This fight will take place on June 1 as part of UFC 302. At the same tournament, Dawson will meet in the octagon with Joe Solecki.
Former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Porier spoke about how he took the bout with current full titleholder Islam Makhachev.
The American and the Dagestani will meet in the main event of the UFC 302 show, scheduled for June 1 in Newark, USA.
"As soon as Tsarukyan defeated Oliveira, I got a call from Hunter Campbell and said: "The fight just ended. I'm going to Tsarukyan's locker room right now, I'll call you back in an hour." It turns out that he then offered Arman a fight with Islam in six weeks. And I perfectly understand Arman's decision to refuse.
And to be honest, six weeks is rather short notice for me too. But I didn't have the option to turn it down and say, "Hey, I need more time to prepare." This is my chance that I have to hold on to as tightly as possible," MMA Mania quoted Porier as saying.
Former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Porier has spoken about his love for the guillotine choke hold.