UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev secured a successful title defense with a knockout win over UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in a short-notice rematch. Following this victory, he expressed interest in facing the winner of the Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington bout apart from his rematch with Charles Oliveira. However, it appears uncertain as the UFC welterweight champion has stated a preference to face another UFC champion, leaving Makhachev’s desired fight in doubt. Let’s delve into the details for more details.
UFC’s No.1 Pound-For-Pound Fighter Islam Makhachev Grapples with Uncertainty in Attaining Desired Bout
Welterweight world champion Leon Edwards is set to defend his title against Colby Covington in the Octagon on December 16. UFC 296, will be the last pay-per-view event of the year which is set to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Talking about this event Islam Makhachev will be glued to it because he wants to face the Welterweight champion after UFC 296.
If Edwards keeps his belt, the fight Makhachev is eyeing might not happen because the current UFC champion talks about wanting to face the Middleweight champion instead of engaging in a lightweight fight.
Talking with Sky Sports, Edwards stated,“Any of [Strickland] or [Du Plessi] will be great to fight. I feel like that would be perfect. Me going out and becoming double champion, the first ever from the UK to do it. That’s definitely one of my goals. Next would be perfect. The division right now, there’s no one that’s exciting in the division. So for me to go out there and do that would be perfect.”
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Edwards aims to be a two-division champion, much like Makhachev. However, while Makhachev desires to face Edwards, the UFC welterweight champion expressed interest in competing in the middleweight title match between Strickland and Du Plessis at UFC 297. This puts Makhachev’s desired bout in doubt, and it appears he might have a rematch with Oliveira in his next fight.