Off the back of his thrilling title fight win against common-foe, Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 over the weekend, Islam Makhachev has been urged to chase a fight with ex-champion, Conor McGregor next by his head coach, Javier Mendez.
Makhachev, the incumbent lightweight titleholder, headlined UFC 302 over the weekend in New Jersey, turning in the third successful defense of his crown with an impressive win against former interim champion, Poirier.
Latching onto a fifth round finish, Makhachev landed a D’Arce choke win over Poirier – with the bout between the duo viewed as even on one judge’s scorecard ahead of the fifth frame, much to the dismay of Islam Makhachev’s coach, former champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov.