The pound-for-pound primary fighter within the UFC and the world was tied with BJ Penn, Benson Henderson, and the person who cornered him on Saturday night, Khabib Nurmagomedov, with 4 UFC light-weight title combat wins. It took the reigning champion simply over 4 minutes to submit late substitute Renato Moicano through D’Arce choke to overhaul these earlier than him.
As anticipated, Makhachev made fast work of the Brazilian challenger, who stepped in on a day’s discover to exchange the injured Arman Tsarukyan, who withdrew from his rematch with the Russian with a again harm. Talking on the UFC post-fight press convention, Makhachev stated ” “I like this belt… If any individual needs this belt, come to the cage.” He additionally said that he’s keen to maneuver up in weight to problem different champions as he did himself with long-time featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski twice.
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Pound-For-Pound Quantity One.
Makhachev went 1-1 in his first two UFC fights, defeating Leo Kuntz in Could 2015 after which shedding to Adriano Martins through knockout in October 2015. He has since gone on to rack up a 15-fight win streak that features wins over Dan Hooker, Dustin Poirier and Charles Olivera on his option to changing into the universally acknowledged pound-for-pound finest fighter on planet Earth.
Dana White has all the time claimed that Jon Jones holds that title regardless of the organisation rating Makhachev within the primary spot. Nonetheless, the president and CEO lastly caved and admitted that he now locations the light-weight champion on the high of the tree, which in all honesty ought to of been executed a very long time in the past reasonably than being so adamant that an inactive Jones resides at primary.
“Yeah, I’ll give it to him,” White stated on the UFC 311 post-fight press convention. “Are you cheerful? Is all people joyful now?” he added “Hundred %, there’s little question about it, he’s the pound-for-pound finest on the earth, and he’s positively the perfect to ever do it in that division.”
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Makhachevs UFC Information
First in UFC light-weight title defences.
Third in UFC light-weight historical past with eight submission wins.
Third in UFC light-weight historical past with a takedown protection of 90.9 %.
Fourth in UFC light-weight historical past in high place time of 1:08:42.
Tied for fourth in UFC light-weight historical past with 10 finishes.
Fifth in UFC light-weight historical past in lowest strikes absorbed per minute at 1.53.
Tied for sixth in UFC light-weight historical past with 15 wins.
Eighth in UFC light-weight historical past with management time of 1:20:21.
Ninth in UFC light-weight historical past with high place share of 40.4 %.
Tenth in UFC light-weight historical past with a takedown accuracy of 53.7 %.
What’s Subsequent For Islam Makhachev?
Following his win, Makhachev didn’t speculate who he would face subsequent, solely that he was keen to face whoever might make the 155-pound weight restrict. He additionally said that he’s keen to extend weight to problem different champions, as he did himself twice with long-time featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski.
The next weight class up is the 170lb welterweight restrict, with Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov setting to battle for the undisputed championship this 12 months. The Dagestani light-weight is greater than able to hanging with the perfect within the increased divisions and even spoke of doubtless transferring as much as 185lbs to problem the winner of Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland, who high the invoice on Feb eleventh at UFC 312 for the undisputed middleweight championship.
