Islam Makhachev has finished fairly nicely for himself within the UFC light-weight division.
It traditionally hasn’t been straightforward to turn out to be and preserve the place of champion at 155 kilos. Though he’s solely been the ruler of the roost since October 2022, Makhachev has wasted no time coming into rarified air as he’s on the cusp of creating historical past with another title protection added to his resume. A win in his subsequent outing can be a record-fourth consecutive light-weight championship protection.
Makhachev, 32, most not too long ago tied the document held by his mentor and former teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov, and legends B.J. Penn and Benson Henderson, when he defeated Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 final month. The efficiency was majorly enterprise as typical for the champ, who submitted “The Diamond” by way of a fifth-round d’arce choke. Nonetheless, criticism nonetheless discovered its technique to Makhachev and his former teammate and former UFC champion Daniel Cormier believes it’s a comparability problem.
“I assumed he did good, man,” Cormier instructed Xtra MMA. “Look, one of many issues about Islam is you turn out to be a sufferer of expectation, proper? He obtained a end, but when he didn’t end him, he would have gained that combat a minimum of 4 rounds to 1. That’s a reasonably dominant efficiency.
“As a result of he’s been so good for thus lengthy, persons are like, ‘Oh, nicely, there have been some moments the place Dustin had moments,’ so that they suppose that it was one thing totally different however Islam fought nice.”
The matchup was touted as a doable retirement combat for Poirier, including loads of attract forward of combat night time. Poirier didn’t name it quits afterward and appears to try to rebound earlier than all is claimed and finished.
Poirier made for Makhachev’s first title protection towards a “conventional” light-weight contender after two earlier wins over former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. In Makhachev’s subsequent combat, he’s anticipated to rematch an previous foe, the surging younger prime contender Arman Tsarukyan.
Fights just like the one with Poirier and the primary Volkanovski conflict have already been extra aggressive than something seen in Khabib Nurmagomedov’s epic title reign earlier than he retired in October 2020. In the end, it’s not truthful to attract these parallels, says Cormier.
“He confirmed that he can strike with a really harmful striker and he was capable of get a end when he wanted [to],” Cormier mentioned. “So, I assumed he did nicely. I assumed Dustin did nicely however I believe he falls sufferer to expectation. He’s not Khabib.
“Khabib was simply so outwardly dominant that you simply by no means noticed him wrestle. So, individuals suppose to count on the identical factor from Islam and no person’s Khabib.”
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Bitter. Jorge Masvidal blames hometown cooking for Nate Diaz loss: ‘Judges have been influenced by the group’
Future. Andre Arlovski thought he’d be ‘a crying child’ after UFC 303, plans to maintain combating till 48
Farewell. Michelle Waterson-Gomez displays on pioneering 17-year MMA profession, why she determined to retire
Crossover. Anthony Joshua encourages Alex Pereira to field, Pereira asks for opponent suggestion
Drama. Stipe Miocic insists ‘I’m not holding up any division like everybody says’ with Jon Jones combat
Aftermath. ‘Full insanity’: Execs react to Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal boxing rematch
Rematch. Dan Ige: ‘It may very well be enjoyable’ to run it again with Diego Lopes, focusing on UFC 306 for return
Grilled. Joe Pyfer rips ‘faux’ followers who doubted him after UFC 303 win: ‘There you go, motherf*ckers!’
Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal post-show and post-fight scrums.
UFC Denver promo.
Better of 2024 to date.
UFC 303 Slo-Mo.
UFC Related.
Full fights.
Finest rounds and finishes from PFL’s common season.
Aspinall.
Volk + Bangtao.
Almighty combat camp.
Mike Brown mini-doc.
Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or discover certainly one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re at the moment actually into. I’ll choose the perfect one alongside my every day alternative and provide you with a shoutout! You may as well share within the feedback under — these are simply tougher to sift by typically!
Again in Thailand.
Comparability.
All the time enjoyable.
Beef.
Hood.
Denver thug.
Not finished.
Man.
Customs.
Drew Dober (27-13) vs. Jean Silva (13-2); UFC Denver, July 13
Jasmine Jasudavicius (10-3) vs. Fatima Kline (6-0); UFC Denver, July 13
Shamil Gaziev (12-1) vs. Don’Story Mayes (11-6); UFC Abu Dhabi, Aug. 3
Charalampos Grigoriou (8-4) vs. Toshiomi Kazama (10-4); UFC Vegas 95, Aug. 10
Li Jingliang (19-8) vs. Carlos Prates (19-6); UFC 305, Aug. 17
Andre Lima (9-0) vs. Felipe Dos Santos (8-1); UFC Vegas 97, Sept. 7
Yazmin Jauregui (11-1) vs. Ketlen Souza (14-4); Noche UFC, Sept. 14
Édgar Cháirez (11-5) vs. Kevin Borjas (9-3); Noche UFC, Sept. 14
Ronaldo Rodriguez (16-2) vs. Ode’ Osbourne (12-7); Noche UFC, Sept. 14
Germaine de Randamie (10-5) vs. Nora Cornolle (8-1); UFC Paris, Sept. 28
Renato Moicano (19-5-1) vs. Benoît Saint Denis (13-2); UFC Paris, Sept. 28
I do know the comparisons have been all the time and have all the time been there, however I don’t really feel like individuals name Khabib and Islam the identical that a lot.
Thanks for studying!
Final Week’s Outcomes:
Wednesday: 60% of 437 whole votes answered “Muhammad Mokaev” when requested, “Who has a greater probability of defeating Alexandre Pantoja?”
Tuesday: 73% of 354 whole votes answered “Jorge Masvidal” when requested, “Who wins this weekend?” Nate Diaz defeated Masvidal by way of majority resolution of their boxing match on July 6.
Monday: 56% of 365 whole votes answered “Ian Machado Garry” when requested, “Which matchup pursuits you extra for Colby Covington?”
At this time’s exit ballot:
Ballot
Who did you suppose gained the Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal boxing rematch?
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