Islam Makhachev doesn’t actually care who’s standing throughout from him at UFC 311.
Up till a number of brief hours in the past, the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ was ready to defend his light-weight title in opposition to the division’s top-ranked contender, Arman Tsarukayn, on Saturday night time contained in the Intuit Dome in L.A. Nevertheless, that’s now not the case after ‘Ahalkalakets’ was pressured to bow out of the bout on Friday morning because of a again damage.
As an alternative, Makhachev will put his gold on the road in opposition to rising star Renato Moicano who was initially set to face perennial contender Beneil Dariush as a part of the night’s essential card.
When UFC CEO Dana White broke the information throughout Friday’s official weigh-in present, he insisted that Makhachev was keen to tackle anybody the promotion selected to place in entrance of him. Makhachev echoed the same sentiment on social media not lengthy after information of Moicano’s transfer up the cardboard made waves.
“What does this title symbolize?,” Makhachev wrote on Instagram. “It means you’re the greatest on the planet and in case you are the very best on the planet, it doesn’t matter who’s going to be standing throughout from you. What do I say? No? NEVER. Let’s do that!”
Islam Makhachev is a large betting favourite in opposition to ‘cash’ moicano
Unsurprisingly, Makhachev emerged as a large -1100 favourite to return out on high in opposition to Moicano, which means that if you wish to win $100 betting on the Dagestani, you’ll should throw down $1,100.
For what it’s price, Moicano goes into the short-notice title tilt with the longest energetic win streak at light-weight, together with wins in opposition to Drew Dober and Jalin Turner, and a fully dominant efficiency in opposition to Benoit Saint-Denis in his final outing.
‘Cash’ at the moment sits at a +700 underdog. Meaning a $100 guess on the Brazilian may internet you $700 ought to he rating what can be one of many largest upsets in blended martial arts historical past.