ABU DHABI – Dana White has not been shy with his praise for Khabib Nurmagomedov. He won’t be shy when it comes to dishing out propers to one of his proteges, either.
After lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) knocked out featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) in the first round of the UFC 294 main event Saturday in Abu Dhabi, UFC CEO White rejected the idea that Makhachev has to live in the shadow of Nurmagomedov, who retired and vacated the lightweight belt in 2020, which paved the way for Makhachev’s ascension and current spot on the throne.
Makhachev was supposed to fight Charles Oliveira, whom he beat to win the vacant title in 2022. But Oliveira pulled out with a cut, and Volkanovski took his second shot at becoming a two-division champ. After a close fight their first time around, Makhachev ripped through Volkanovski in a hurry in the rematch.
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