An alleged demand for $1million from UFC star Islam Makhachev to take a late-notice fight against Rafael Dos Anjos last weekend could pave the way for a Conor McGregor title shot.
Dos Anjos, a former lightweight champion, was supposed to face Rafael Fiziev at Saturday night's UFC 272 pay-per-view event, but was forced to fight a late-notice replacement instead when Fiziev tested positive for coronavirus.
And it appeared for a time that Makachev, who had quickly beaten veteran Bobby Green the weekend prior, was going to step up and save the co-main event fight.
But at the 11th-hour, the fight was instead given to Renato Moicano, whom Dos Anjos brutalised over the five-round contest in a catchweight bout.
And the former champion has said Makhachev asked for seven-figures to take the fight on just days' notice, despite publicly saying he'd be willing to compete.
“I heard he asked for like $1m or something to take the fight," Dos Anjos said during an appearance on The MMA Hour. "But no other explanation."
Instead, promotional president Dana White has said that he will now have to face Beneil Dariush before he is considered for a title fight, which could pave the way for McGregor to sneak in for a July shot at the belt.
“I even texted Beneil; 'now I got your fight back'," Dos Anjos continued. "That’s the price he pays for playing these little games.
"He had his title shot secured now he’s gotta fight another one.”
Charles Oliveira will defend his title for the second time on May 7 at UFC 274 in Arizona, with McGregor expected to return to sparring next month.
And the Irishman has indicated he could be back in time for the first weekend of July, where a possible bout could take place on International Fight Week between he and the winner of Oliveira vs top contender Justin Gaethje.
Would you be angry if Conor McGregor gets a title fight? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
For his part, Makhachev has denied that he made such a hefty demand, instead indicating that he wanted a "small condition" to take the fight just a week after facing Green, who stepped in for the injured Dariush the weekend prior.
"Dana said I turned down this fight," Makhachev told ESPN MMA. "But Monday morning when I woke up I just saw some news that [Rafael] Fiziev has COVID, the fight is at a standstill.
"I've been in California on vacation and I woke up and called my manager; 'Hey Ali [Abdelaziz, head of Dominance MMA], I saw some news, please call the UFC and say I'm ready to take this fight.'
"And I asked about some condition, a very small condition, nothing big, not [impossible] to do but UFC didn't do it that's why it did not happen.
"I just wanted to help UFC for the fans, for everybody, because this is like a pay-per-view show.
"It's big show, I just asked for very small condition but the UFC said no and that's it."
