Islam Makhachev is confident he can move up a division and claim a second UFC championship.
Lightweight champion Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) is expected to make his next title defense at UFC 294 on Oct. 22 in Abu Dhabi. While his focus is on defending his belt, he has aspirations of champ-champ status.
When dissecting UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC), who beat Kamaru Usman in back-to-back fights, Makhachev likes his chances.
“This is my dream, and I’m sure I can be double champion,” Makhachev said in an interview on Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel. “I can beat Leon Edwards. He showed good (takedown) defense. With me it’s gonna be different. I can strike with him, I can grapple with him, wrestling. Anywhere I can beat this guy. Just give me one chance, and that’s it. Maybe after I win a second belt, they’re gonna put me best pound-for-pound.”
Makhachev is coming off a close decision win over featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 in February. Makhachev’s aim was to claim the No. 1 spot in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings, but he remained No. 2 despite the win.
With Jon Jones returning and making quick work of Ciryl Gane to capture the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285 in March, “Bones” is now top of the pound-for-pound rankings, bumping Makhachev down to No. 3.
“This is bullsh*t, brother,” Makhachev said. “How Jon Jones can be No. 1? He beat some guy who is not champion. This guy (Gane) don’t have belt, and they put him No. 1 pound-for-pound. This is bullsh*t. … Doesn’t matter how he beat him. The UFC put him best pound-for-pound. But other people who know about MMA, they know who is the best fighter in the world. Don’t call me lightweight champion. Call me pound-for-pound best fighter.”
