UFC has recap the journey of Makhachev.
Idman.biz reports that the champion secures the No. 1 men’s pound-for-pound ranking in the world.
“After beating Charles Oliveira to claim the lightweight title at UFC 280, Islam Makhachev immediately faced off with featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Little did Makhachev know, but his whole 2023 campaign in the Octagon would come against Volkanovski.
Makhachev went to Australia and beat Volkanovski on his own turf. Yes, it was a close fight and a great fight, but Makhachev left the arena in Perth with a unanimous decision victory over one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.
The 32-yeaer-old Makhchev was the slated to rematch Oliveira at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, but ten days prior to the fight, Oliveira suffered a cut that forced him out of the fight. In stepped Volkanovski.
This time Makhachev wanted to leave no doubt. He wanted to finish Volkanovski and crush the Australian champ’s dreams of becoming a double-champ – and he did just that. Just over the three-minute mark in the first round of their bout, Makhachev landed a brilliant head kick that he followed up with some strikes and put Volkanovski out.
There is no shortage of contenders lining up for a crack at Makhachev. A rematch with Oliveira looms, while Justin Gaethje pushed himself to the top of the list with his head kick knockout over Dustin Poirier at UFC 291. In addition, Arman Tsarukyan, who faced Makhachev in a Fight of the Night bout in 2019 has worked his way into the top five.”
Idman.biz
