Islam Makhachev has shared his theory why the UFC replaced him as the pound-for-pound number one.
Since its rise to the top of the lightweight division, Islam Makhachev is generally considered the Pound-for-Pound number one hunter in the sport, despite the constant campaigns of Dana White that it is Jon Jones.
And then after Jones's official pension earlier this year, he was removed from the rankings, which then pushed the Russian to the first place.
Makhachev, however, was replaced as the pound-for-pound number one last month when Ilia Topuria Charles Oliveira eliminated in the UFC 317 Main Event to become the lightweight champion and pound-for-pound king.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Islam Makhachev shares the theory why he has been replaced as P4P NO1
Makhachev and Ilia Topuria have a constant feud and the Spaniard remains non -free that they will eventually fight each other in the Octagon.
With 'El Matador' who has taken the place of the Russian as a pound-for-pound number one, the fight can be even greater than it was originally.
And the former lightweight champion believes that this is the exact reason why the promotion has moved him a place in the ranking, in an attempt to bring their potential collision to the market.
“Well, it's marketing. They deliberately promote this fight. People are already interested in it, so if they do well, we will fight for the number one place in the ranking,” Makhachev told the UFC during the presence at UFC Abu Dhabi last Saturday.
Islam Makhachev responds to Ilia Topuria who takes his place when the #1 pound-for-Pond Jager in the world
“Well, it's marketing. They do it on purpose to promote this fight … so they are doing well, and we will fight for the #1 place in the ranking.” 👀
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Makhachev claims that his next fight was done 90%
Although the UFC seemed to miss that potential superfight, there is clearly still interest from both hunters to make it happen.
However, before that fight can happen, the Russian will first fight against goodweight champion Jack della Maddalena, where the fight is aimed at the end of the year.
The 32-year-old claimed that the fight '90%'was done and will take place in Madison Square Garden after he had presented it to the UFC.