The UFC approached three fighters for a bout with Leon Edwards at UFC 300. As it turns out, Islam Makhachev was one of them.
The reigning UFC Lightweight Champion has long dreamt of double-champ status, mentioning in the past he'd love to fight for welterweight gold someday. Makhachev had that very chance in the main event spot of UFC 300.
However, the circumstances didn't line up for the practicing Muslim as the Apr. 13 date for the mega-event interferes with Ramadan and that's ultimately why Makhachev ruled out the return.
"Honestly, yes," Makhachev told MMA Junkie, when asked if he was offered Leon Edwards at UFC 300. "But it's not possible man, because we have Ramadan now, one month we fasting and it's not possible to [keep] training in Ramadan. It's very hard. You have to fasting when the sunrise and all day you have to fasting just like five, six hours.
"I ask, can they push the UFC 300, like two weeks [later]? I will be ready," Makhachev laughed. "But they say it's not possible."
Makhachev says moving up to challenge Leon Edwards would've been a 'dream fight' for him.
"I don't have like any small chance to fight in the UFC 300. That's why I'm very upset, man. It's a big deal. Big fight with Leon for the second belt. But this time I miss the chance."
With Makhachev's next fight more than likely being at 155lbs, former interim champion Dustin Poirier sees a window of opportunity to fight for the undisputed title.
'The Diamond' proved he's still got it with a second-round knockout of fearless French finisher Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299. This is Poirier's first and only win since being stopped by Justin Gaethje last summer.
While Poirier could have a better case for a title shot, there's a lack of available top contenders right now... which Makhachev will touch up on later.
"Dustin does not deserve the title fight, but we don't have any option right now," Makhachev said. "Everybody busy. But, I want to fight like three times in the year. That's why I just have to call someone and Poirier is free now. He showed like excellent performance and scored the beautiful knockout.
"He beat a lot of tough guys and he is a legend. This fight with him, it's gonna be good for me, for the history, for everything. He's a legend. He beat a lot of tough guys and he is a tough opponent, too. He have good guillotine."
Speaking of submissions, Dustin Poirier sent Makhachev a message not long after the interview came out.
"Islam," Poirier wrote on 'X', with a 'TO THE GUILLOTINE' GIF attached.
When it comes to more worthy title challengers, Islam Makhachev says Justin Gaethje is one of them. However, 'The Highlight' is stuck fighting Max Holloway in the first-ever defense of the BMF title.
The lightweight champion Islam Makhachev says the silver belt and the barn-burner bout itself holds no value.
"This is useless fight for useless belt and nobody gains nothing from this fight. I have two, three guys, [Arman] Tsarukyan, [Charles] Oliveira and Gaethje, but Tsarukyan and Oliveira, I beat them already, both of them. But I have Gaethje, he deserve fight for the title. Now this is his like good time for him, he show good performance last two fights.
"For Holloway, he have already new champion and he can fight now with [Ilia] Topuria. But you know, they put them [against] each other. I don't know this fight, for me it's nothing. But for the fans, I think it's gonna be good. They both like to give damage, like to fight and like to [stay] boxing always. But for me and for division, this fight mean nothing."
If you use any quotes from this article, please leave an H/T to MMAKnockout.com for the transcription.
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