Islam Makhachev has his sights set on a bout with Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier in the summer, feeling that is his only option out of potential contenders.
The last time fans saw Makhachev in the cage was at UFC 294 in October 2023, when he successfully defended his belt in compelling style, against former Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski – who took the fight on just 11 days’ notice.
In an interview with MMAJunkie, the UFC Lightweight champion revealed a minor injury has prevented him from competing so far this year but he now feels ready to return to the octagon and look to defend his 155lbs belt once more. Speaking to Mike Bohn, he said:
“Now I am healthy, I told them I will be ready in the March but they asked me to fight at the beginning of February and at that time I had a small injury and not ready 100% but I told them in the March I will be ready but they said in March we don’t have any options so I said okay, I have the belt. Just give me someone, I will be ready.
Now ready and waiting, the champion has made no secret of the fact he would very much like to compete in June and when looking at potential opponents, he sees Dustin Poirier as the only option for the time frame he is looking at – even though he does not believe ‘The Diamond’ deserves a shot at the belt.
“Yes because I know Dustin not deserve the title fight but we don’t have any option right now, everybody’s busy but I want to fight. I want to fight three times in the year, this is why I just have to call someone and Poirier is free now and he showed (an) excellent performance, scored a beautiful knockout. He is free now, he is healthy, I asked him to fight in June, maybe.”
Even though he feels like Poirier is his only option, the bout with the UFC veteran is a one that still excites Makhachev who has a lot of respect for ‘The Diamond’.
“He's beat a lot of tough guys, he’s a legend and a fight with him, it is going to be good for me. For the history, for everything, he is a legend, he beat a lot of tough guys and he is a top opponent too, he has a good guillotine.”
It was then put to the Lightweight champion that his name had been reported as one of the three that had opted not to fight Leon Edwards at UFC 300 but as he revealed, training during Ramadan is hard enough without having to try and plan for a fight and that logistically, it would not have been possible for him. Makhachev has been very open about his desire to become a two weight division champion and was disappointed at missing out on the opportunity to face the Brit at UFC 300.
“This is a dream fight for me and I don’t have any small chance to fight at UFC 300 that’s why I am very upset. It’s a big deal, big fight with Leon Edwards for the second belt but this time I missed the chance.”
When discussing the BMF title fight between Gaethje and Max Holloway, Makhachev struggled to understand Gaethje’s reasoning for taking the bout, when he was likely next in line for the title but although he doesn’t feel the fight does anything to impact the division, the 32-year-old believes the bout will certainly deliver for the fans.
“I don’t want to make people upset but this is a useless fight for a useless belt and nobody gains nothing from this fight. Now I have three guys Tsarukyan, Oliveira and Gaethje but tsarukyan and Oliveira I have beat them already, both of them. But I have Gaethje, he deserves to fight for the title, this is a good time for him, he’s showed a good performance last two fights. For Holloway, he already has a new champion and he can fight now with Topuria. I don’t know, this fight for me is nothing but for the fans I think it is going to be a good fight. They both like to give damage and like boxing but for me and the division, the fight means nothing.”
You can see his full interview with MMAJunkie, below:
