Islam Makhachev vs. Justin Gaethje
Their first meeting was a razor-thin decision and back-and-forth spectacle. This time the judges did not tally a single score. Islam Makhachev pummeled Alexander Volkanovski in less than two minutes, once again proving that he is the best fighter in the UFC at 155 pounds. The huge improvements to Islam Makhachev’s striking are paying dividends and could potentially haunt the entire lightweight division for quite some time.
Under normal circumstances, Volkanovski’s quick loss would open the door for Charles Oliveira to spin the block and find himself standing across from Islam Makhachev again in the near future. “Do Bronx” earned it, but it’s hard to shake the memory of Makhachev dominating him at UFC 280. Instead, let’s look at Justin Gaethje for the next challenge. It’s a fresh pairing and would give the added bonus of unifying the undisputed title with the BMF belt.
Related: UFC lightweight rankings: Islam Makhachev defends top spot
Khamzat Chimaev vs Paulo Costa
After a fast start for Khamzat Chimaev, the pace drastically slowed for the budding star. Kamaru Usman survived the first-round grappling assault to fight his way back into the fight with effective boxing. It’s unclear whether it was the legendary cardio of the former welterweight king, Chimaev fatiguing from his all-out wrestling clinic in the opening round, or a combination of both that made what looked like an imminent finish for “Borz” turn into a majority decision. In an alternate universe, Usman may have gotten his hand raised in a five-round affair.
Whatever the case may be, it’s clear that Chimaev has not earned a shot at middleweight champion Sean Strickland. This holds especially true when Dricus Du Plessis is waiting in the queue. Chimaev has yet to face a ranked 185er and navigating that hurdle is necessary before he can ever be considered for a title shot beyond the UFC’s dedication to marketing the Chechnyan.
With that said, rebook the Paulo Costa fight. A Chimaev win will justify a championship opportunity and the personality clash between the two has already generated a great deal of interest. Costa, who is on the mend from a staph infection that forced him to withdraw from the card, defeated Luke Rockhold at UFC 278 in his last outing.
Related: UFC pound for pound rankings: Top two fighters go to war
Magomed Ankalaev vs Johnny Walker
It’s a shame that Magomed Ankalaev has yet again left the cage with an inconclusive result, but here we are. The no-contest against Johnny Walker has left a ton of questions about both the former title challenger and the contender who has worked hard to rebuild his career.
It’s best if we just close our eyes and forget this fiasco happened. Pair them back up and let’s get some clarity about the pecking order at light heavyweight.
Related: UFC light heavyweight rankings
Ikram Aliskerov vs Nassourdine Imavov
In a gloriously violent display, Ikram Aliskerov had no trouble handling Warlley Alves. The well-hyped Russian did exactly what he was supposed to do against Alves, who stepped in on less than two weeks’ notice.
Aliskerov’s crushing power and finishing ability have been spectacular to watch. But showing that against a short-notice opponent who was on a two-fight skid shouldn’t propel him to contender status. Let’s just rebook him against the number 12-ranked Nassourdine Imavov. Since visa issues derailed their UFC 294 fight and Imavov took no real damage against Alves, this should be an easy one to revisit. In his most recent fight, Imavov lost a decision to Sean Strickland in January.
Said Nurmagomedov vs Montel Jackson
Said Nurmagomedov did not leave things to chance or even give himself enough time to work up a sweat. His first-round submission over Muin Gafurov only confirms his status among the more intriguing prospects in the UFC and helps him put his March loss to Jonathan Martinez in the rearview mirror.
As impressive as his performance was though, it shouldn’t warrant a huge climb up the ladder. Gafurov has yet to earn a win after making his promotional debut earlier this year. If Nurmagomedov is to break into the rankings, it should be from an opponent more proven at the highest level of the sport. Montel “Quik” Jackson fits the bill and makes for an interesting style match. Jackson was last seen finishing Rani Yahya in April.