Khabib Nurmagomedov has demanded the UFC hands his protege Islam Makachev a lightweight title shot against Charles Oliveira.
Oliveira choked out Justin Gaethje in the first round of their main event at UFC 274 on Saturday night but the 155lb title remains vacant after the Brazilian weighed in half a pound overweight. Oliveira, who is on an 11-fight win streak, will fight for his old belt later this year against a leading contender.
Michael Chandler staked his claim for a rematch with Oliveira by knocking out Tony Ferguson with a stunning front kick on the undercard, but Nurmagomedov insists Makhachev is deserving of a maiden title shot.
"Dana White, you have no other choice but [to] make Oliveira vs Islam fight in Abu Dhabi [on] October 22," he wrote on social media. "Perfect date, perfect location, perfect opponents with perfect winning streaks, 10 vs 11. Why [does] Islam Makhachev have to do contender fight, if there’s no champion in this division?"
Makhachev was stopped in his second UFC fight in 2015 but has since won 10 fights in succession to establish himself among the leading lightweights in the world. UFC president Dana White wants to reschedule his bout with Beneil Dariush - but could be tempted to ditch that fight and plunge Makhachev in at the deep end.
And White revealed UFC commentator Joe Rogan pleaded with him to match the Russian with Oliveira. "I do [want him to fight Dariush] but Joe Rogan just grabbed me in the hallway and told me not to."
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Oliveira refused to commit to naming his preferred challenger, but did call out Conor McGregor only to be met with a mixed response from the former two-weight champion. The Irishman is currently completing his rehabilitation from the broken leg he suffered against Dustin Poirier last summer.
And the Irishman seems set to return at welterweight having bulked up to 190lb during his time on the sidelines. "I’m not sure I wish to cut the weight," he said on social media after Oliveira's win. "I am really enjoying being built like a refrigerator. I feel I want to fight at this size just to watch it back lol. But I’d love to fight the Brazilian, 100 per cent! I love Brazil and I’m unbeaten against Brazil. All KO’s. I’ve some thinking to do."
