If it were up to Javier Mendez, Islam Makhachev would be defending the UFC lightweight championship against Beneil Dariush next.
Minutes after his second-round submission win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 this past Saturday, Makhachev shifted his focus to the first defense of his reign—which, by all appearances, will come against UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. The champ vs. champ clash was all but confirmed by UFC president Dana White, who said ‘it looks like Volkanovski is next’ in his post-fight press conference.
Though Mendez is fine with Makhachev vs. Volkanovski, he told Submission Radio that someone else is more deserving of an opportunity against his newly crowned champion.