Dana White has ‘completely different plan’ for Islam Makhachev after UFC 311 win, claims insider
Dana White has already planned what's next for UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev after UFC 311 title win.
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Dana White has big plans for Islam Makhachev (via Imago/X)
Islam Makhachev has proved yet again why he’s the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world at UFC 311. The lightweight champion defended his title for the fourth time by submitting short-notice challenger Renato Moicano. With this victory, the Dagestani cemented his legacy, and it seems Dana White is looking to capitalize on his dominance.
After the win, there were multiple assumptions about Makhachev’s next challenge. While he got a call out from the featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, many predicted a title fight with Charles Oliveira as a possible option. However, his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, recently made a tweet bursting the bubble.
The UFC has a completely different plan for Islam which doesn’t include Oliveira, Arman or Ilia. But it’s an unpredictable sport and you don’t know what could happen.
Ali Abdelaziz via X
The champion not only took on a new opponent at the last minute, but also finished him in round one. As a result, Dana White, thoroughly impressed, called Makhachev the pound-for-pound best after his incredible performance. This statement shocked many, as White often reserves that title for the heavyweight champion Jon Jones above all others.
The UFC has a completely different plan for Islam which doesn’t include Oliveira, Arman or Ilias. But it’s an unpredictable sport and you don’t know what could happen.
— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) January 20, 2025
Makhachev doesn’t want to fight someone from the 145 division and is also uninterested in a rematch. The fighter has often talked about new challenges, particularly in the welterweight division. The Dagestani doesn’t want to leave the sport without winning the second UFC belt. It would be interesting to see how White plans this in the future.
UFC veteran reviews Islam Makhachev’s dominance at UFC 311
Islam Makhachev was originally expected to fight Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311. But due to a back injury, the Armenian had to pull out and Renato Moicano was given the opportunity of a lifetime. The Brazilian was motivated and had a substantial amount of support for him from the fans, but, all that wasn’t enough.
The D’Arce choke that Makhachev used on Moicano was exactly the same one that he used against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. According to the champion, it is his favorite move, which he has protected over time. Former UFC champion Demetrious Johnson in a recent YouTube video talked about the finish in detail.
When you fight the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. You are not just fighting the skill, the technique, the cardio. You are also fighting the IQ the intelligence of the athlete. Islam has fought some of best in the division…..they don’t squeeze from here, they squeeze from their lats. He got my black a*** twice with it.
Demetrious Johnson via his YouTube channel
DJ and Makhachev trained with each other a few weeks before UFC 311. The legendary fighter agreed that during sparring the champion caught him twice with the same choke. On top of that, this was the fifth Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt holder that Makhachev submitted in the UFC. The future looks exciting for the lightweight champion.
Related: Islam Makhachev Net Worth, Endorsements, UFC contract, Wife and House
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Ameetosh Dash
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