“I have to wake up my division,” Islam Makhachev demands title shot after his dominating win against Dan Hooker at UFC 267

“I have to wake up my division,” Islam Makhachev demands title shot after his dominating win against Dan Hooker at UFC 267

Islam Makhachev

The Dagestani UFC Lightweight fighter, Islam Makhachev makes a strong statement for the title shot with his dominating win against the number 6th ranked Lightweight fighter, Dan Hooker at UFC 267. With this win, Makhachev improved his undefeated streak to nine fights and he is no longer biting his tongue about a title shot.

The UFC Lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira is booked to face the number one ranked Lightweight fighter, Dustin Poirier at the main event of UFC 269. After securing a first-round submission win against Hooker at UFC 267, Islam Makhachev believes he will be facing the winner of this fight.

Talking about his title contention in the post-fight interview, Makhachev says, “Next fight, it has to be for the title, or a contender fight, because I have a nine-fight winning streak, who in my division have this? Just the champion.”

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“And I feel my division is a little bit asleep right now. I have to wake up my division, because we have to change some things. The old guys from the top-five, they’ve already fought for the title – Chandler, Gaethje. That’s why we have to change something.” {h/t MMA Fighting}

Islam Makhachev claims Dan Hooker’s ground game is weak that’s why he goes for Kimura

Islam Makhachev UFC 267
Islam Makhachev at UFC 267

Islam Makhachev is the protégé of former UFC Lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and the Russian fighters are always known for their ground game. Makhachev used his ground skill and forced Hooker to tap in the very first round of the fight.

He added, “I told you before, I can strike with him, but I know the easy way, That’s why I choose this way. I know his ground game is not so good.” Makhachev will jump a couple of places when the rankings will update and he believes title shot is the only fight next for him.

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In the end, he concluded, “Now, I’m going to be like, No. 3 or No. 4, so I don’t know if it’s going to be easier to get fights, I’m ready to fight for the title. But it they give me some other step, I’m ready for anyone.” {h/t MMA Fighting}

Also Read: “DC, suck harder,” Justin Gaethje bashes Daniel Cormier for pandering to Islam Makhachev at UFC 267.