Islam Makhachev next fight news has finally arrived, and the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC today is set to defend his gold this June. But who will be challenging him for the lightweight title?
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After eight months away from the sport, Islam Makhachev is scheduled to make his long-awaited return to action on June 1. And when the 155-pound king steps back into the Octagon in Newark, New Jersey former interim champion Dustin Poirier will be the man welcoming him back to the cage.
Despite losing his fight to Justin Gaethje last year, Dustin Poirier’s heroic come-from-behind win over Benoit Saint-Denis earlier this year secured a title shot and he is a worthy and dangerous challenge for the reigning lightweight king.
A mat problem for the Diamond: While Poirier has faced many of the best fighters of his era he has faced very few elite grapplers, except Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. Makhachev is a close friend of Nurmagomedov and is likely to employ the same wrestling-heavy gameplan that he dominantly used to defeat Poirier in 2019. The question is, has “Diamond” come up with new tricks to avoid the same result?
Deadly threat on the feet: Makhachev has put together an impressive resume but he has not fought a competitor like Poirier who has technically sound striking and can drop bombs with his fists. If Makhachev can not get this fight to the ground often, this bout will be one of his biggest career challenges despite improved striking skills.
The bottom line: This is going to be one of the most highly anticipated bouts of 2024 as the Russian looks to secure another win over a future Hall-of-Famer and the American looks to make the most of what will be his last shot at a lineal UFC title.
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Islam Makhachev was the heir apparent to UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov when it comes to top MMA stars from Dagestan, Russia. However, during his run in the company he has built the type of resume where a debate could be made that he has surpassed the success of his legendary friend.
Not only is Islam Makhachev one of the very best fighters at 155 pounds, but he is among the five best pound-for-pound competitors in the world.
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The measure of a fighter’s success is the dollars and cents they stack up from a career in combat sports. Due to landing some big sponsorships in recent years, Islam Makhavhev’s net worth is believed to be around $1 million.