UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will be keen to remind fans who is the king of the lightweight division after a red-hot night for the division at UFC 300.
Makhachev has no shortage of contenders keen to take his lightweight crown and he is in training ahead of his June 1 defense.
Who is Islam Makhachev fighting next?
Dustin Poirier has been confirmed as Makhachev’s next opponent.
The middleweight bout between former world champion Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa will be the co-main event.
Speaking about a possible fight with Poirier prior to the announcement, Makhachev’s coach Javier Mendez toldKing Casino Bonus: “I do know Islam will be fighting soon because I’m going to Dagestan soon to train him.
“I kind of like the Dustin one, Dustin was talking about Islam and Islam responded, so I like the banter, the back and forth, there’s already history there, so I like the storyline with Dustin.”
Both Arman Tsarukyan and Max Holloway emerged victorious in huge lightweight fights on the UFC 300 bill.
Holloway knocked out Justin Gaethje in one of the most dramatic knockouts in UFC history, but he looks more likely to drop back down to featherweight to challenge Ilia Topuria for his belt.
Meanwhile, Tsarukyan beat former lightweight world champion Charles Oliveira and he could well be next in line forthe winner of Makhachev vs Poirier.
Speaking after his win over Oliveira, Tsarukyan said: “Give me [a] title shot.
“With Islam, a rematch, I’m going to win. Doesn’t matter how. I just need to win that fight because I want to be a champion. The best-case scenario is knock him out.”
Makhachev’sMMArecord stands at 25 wins and one defeat.
Sean McCormick was the Sports Editor at Dexerto. He has a BA in Sports Journalism and over the last seven years has worked as a writer, reporter and an editor across titles such as Chronicle Live, Leeds Live and Manchester Evening News covering the region’s football clubs and sports stars. Sean loves football, boxing, MMA, darts and NBA.
