Islam Makhachev has shared his theory as to why the UFC has replaced him as the pound-for-pound number one.
Since his rise to the top of the lightweight division, Islam Makhachev has been widely regarded as the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the sport, despite Dana White‘s continuous campaigning that it’s Jon Jones.
And then following Jones’ official retirement earlier this year, he was removed from the rankings which subsequently bumped the Russian up to the top spot.
However, Makhachev was replaced as the pound-for-pound number one last month when Ilia Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira in the UFC 317 main event to become the lightweight champion and pound-for-pound king.
Islam Makhachev shares theory as to why he’s been replaced as P4P no1
Makhachev and Ilia Topuria have an ongoing feud and the Spaniard remains adamant that they will eventually end up fighting each other inside the Octagon.
With ‘El Matador’ having taken the Russian’s spot as pound-for-pound number one, the fight could be even bigger than it originally was.
And the former lightweight champion believes that is the exact reason why the promotion moved him down a spot in the rankings, in an attempt to market their potential clash.
“Well, it’s marketing. They’re doing it on purpose to promote this fight. People are already interested in it so if they do it right, we’ll be fighting for the number one spot in the rankings,” Makhachev told the UFC whilst in attendance at UFC Abu Dhabi this past Saturday.
Makhachev claims his next fight is 90% done
Although the UFC seemed to miss out on that potential super-fight, there is clearly still interest there from both fighters for it to eventually happen.
However, before that fight can happen, the Russian will fight welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena first, with the fight being targeted for near the end of the year.
The 32-year-old has claimed that the fight is ‘90%’ done and will take place at Madison Square Garden after he proposed it to the UFC.