Islam Makhachev continued to step out of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s shadow last night, with an impressive TKO win over Bobby Green in the main event of UFC Vegas 49. The win extended the Dagestani’s win streak to 10-fights and gave him his fourth stoppage victory in a row, following submissions of Dan Hooker, Thiago Moises and Drew Dober.
With the win over Green, who was coming in on short notice for the injured Beneil Dariush, Makhachev is in pole position to fight the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje. That UFC lightweight title fight is scheduled for UFC 274 on May 7.