UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev's coach Javier Mendez isn't sure his fighter has earned his spot on the UFC pound-for-pound rankings after just one major win.
The Dagestani fighter won the 155lb belt from highly-ranked Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 in October with a dominant second-round submission. But Mendez is still keen to see him step up and face more of the sport's top fighters before he can lay claim to the top spot in MMA's top promotion.
Makhachev will have the chance to prove his credentials again in February when the No.1 fighter in the world Alexander Volkanovski moves up to lightweight to challenge him for the world title. The Australian has been featherweight champion since 2019 and beaten all but one of the division's previous champions before being crowned No.1 when welterweight Kamaru Usman was dethroned in August.
