We’ve all seen Islam Makhachev dominate inside the octagon—to the point where Dana White is trying to find contenders worthy of facing him. His lightweight dominance is reaching new heights, and opponents are running out of ways to dethrone him. However, it appears that Makhachev is not only expressing his superiority in the fight game; he is also transcending legends outside of it. In an unexpected yet incredible feat, the UFC’s pound-for-pound king has surpassed Jon Jones and joined the elite company of Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov. But what is the mystery feat?
Well, Islam Makhachev recently became the fourth most-followed UFC fighter in history, surpassing the 10-million milestone on Instagram. In doing so, he eclipsed Jones, one of the most decorated UFC champions ever. The lightweight champion acknowledged the moment by resharing an ESPN MMA post about his achievement on his Instagram story with a simple emoji, ‘’. Now, only three fighters have more social media followers than him: Ronda Rousey, his longtime mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Conor McGregor.
So, there is no denying the fact anymore that Makhachev has reached the status of a legend just like Nurmagomedov and McGregor, as his large following purely reflects his supremacy inside the cage that impressed many worldwide. This massive increase in popularity comes while Makhachev is creating history in the UFC. After defending his championship at UFC 311, he established himself as the most successful lightweight champion in terms of title defenses.
However, his success in and out of the Octagon, like his latest feat, has generated a new problem: finding challengers. While he has stated reservations about rematches, the UFC appears to have different plans. Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan are both seen as prominent contenders, and Justin Gaethje, fresh off his UFC 313 co-main event victory, adds another name to the mix. And let’s not forget that Ilia Topuria too has moved to the featherweight division now and is looking to face the kingpin. So, can he be the next opponent? Well, Makhachev’s not too thrilled about it.
Islam Makhachev not thrilled about facing Ilia Topuria
Since winning and defending the UFC Featherweight Championship, Ilia Topuria has made no secret of his ambition to confront Islam Makhachev. Confident in his ability, the undefeated Georgian-Spaniard sees himself as the UFC’s next big thing, and defeating Makhachev would secure his legacy. However, the defending lightweight champion isn’t very keen on the idea. After already taking out Alexander Volkanovski—another featherweight great—not once, but twice, Makhachev doesn’t see the value in facing another 145-pounder.
Makhachev stated, “Oh man, I’m tired of giving chances to small guys,” prior to UFC 311, making his opinion clear. Unlike his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired with only one belt, Islam Makhachev seeks fame in a different way. Instead of defending his lightweight title against featherweight champs, he’s aiming for welterweight gold. With Belal Muhammad presently in contention for the 170-pound title, Makhachev is keeping a careful eye on the situation, looking for a chance to step up and become a two-division champion.
“I need my second belt,” Makhachev reaffirmed, rejecting the possibility of facing Topuria. “It’s nothing [against] him. He’s a good fighter; he’s a good, skilled fighter, but I don’t want to give him a chance. I need a second belt. That fight’s for what? For me, it’s nothing. Just his name. I don’t need his name; I need the belt.” With that mindset, it’s apparent Islam Makhachev isn’t just thinking about championship defenses; he wants to make history by joining the exclusive list of UFC double champions. So, what do you think? Will he be able to achieve the feat and join Conor McGregor on yet another list? Let us know in the comments.
The post UFC News: Islam Makhachev Surpasses Jon Jones in Incredible Feat to Join Khabib & Conor McGregor appeared first on EssentiallySports.