The words war between UFC champions Islam Makhachev and Drus Du Plessis is starting to get on steam.
Dricus Du Plessis brutally put an end to Islam Makhakev's potential striving for championships in three divisions, prior to his UFC 312-back to the Octagon. After Makhachev had plagued a potential collision with Du Plessis in the middleweight, it was not long before the defending champion in the middleweight rejected his chances.
Du Plessis will compete in Sean Strickland in Sean Strickland the following month during the UFC 312 Main Event. It is one of the largest fighting in the middleweight history and a rematch of their UFC 297 instant classic from last year.
If Du Plessis can pass Strickland again, a fight with the unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev is probably lurking for the middleweight champion. But Makhachev could possibly interrupt that idea if he seriously is considering making a switch to middleweight after his UFC 311 victory on Renato Moicano.
Despite the claims of Du Plessis that he would 'overpower' Makhachev within the Octagon, Makhachev will maintain that he would get the upper hand on Du Plessis, despite the fact that he is at a disadvantage in size.
Photos by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Islam Makhachev refers to opponents of a possible jump in the middleweight
In a recent interview with Ushatayka, Makhachev explained why he has faith in a middleweight step.
“My height allows it,” said Makhachev. “I think my physical [attributes] Allow it too. I just have to collaborate with my specialists, build muscle mass, add some weight. I think I can try it.
“As I said at the press conference after the fight: if they offered it tomorrow and said they would give me time, I would not reject it. I would agree 100 percent to fight in the middleweight. I am not saying that I have a better chance that I can finish Du Plessis 100 percent, but when I look at his fighting, at his style, I think I have the keys to victory. ”
An important reason for Makhachev's recent middleweight pests is that his teammate, Belal Muhammad, has the UFC-Welterweight title. Makhachev and Mohammed express their concern when they are opposed to each other when the subject is brought up by fans and media.
Makhachev has fought his entire career on lightweight, without two catchweight fights. Makhachev would probably cost a switch to the middleweight to do it correctly, similar to what Jon Jones did for his switch from light heavyweight to heavyweight.
The battle discussions between Islam Makhachev and Dricus du Plessis are being performed
The first thing Du Plessis has to do is that he tries to make his feud with Strickland final. In their first fight, Du Plessis achieved a Split-Decision victory in the midst of a continuous winning streak of 10 fights.
Before beating Moicano, Makhachev successfully defended the UFC lightweight title against Dustin Poirier and Alexander Volkanovski (twice). Originally he would compete against Arman Tsarukyan on UFC 311 before Tsarukyan withdrew hours in advance due to a back injury.
Makhachev and Du Plessis will probably not meet each other soon, but their recent statements will open a potential window for an unprecedented super fight between champion and champion.
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