Islam Makhachev is doing well right now. He knocked out Alexander Volkanovski in the first round at UFC 294. It means the lightweight champion has a busy 2024 ahead of him. Daniel Cormier spoke on Makhachev’s timeline and how next year will look for him.
The Champion Islam Makhachev
Makhachev is an amazing fighter in the octagon. He always performs well and dominates his opponents. He shocked the MMA world by knocking out Volkanovski with a head kick in Abu Dhabi. There are many great contenders for the champion to take on in the lightweight division. Fighters like Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Dustin Poirier come to mind. Makhachev was dominant in 2023, and it looks like it will be no different in 2024.
Daniel Cormier Lays Out The Plan
On his show with Ryan Clark, Cormier shares when he thinks the lightweight champion will fight next year.
“There’s three guys,” Cormier said. “March works, Saudi Arabia; there’s a fight card there. It makes all the sense in the world. You get Charles Oliveira versus Islam Makhachev, number two. Then, you have to imagine Islam Makhachev will want to fight in that second quarter. You must think about Ramadan. So, you guess you’ll get Islam at some point in the summer. But then Abu Dhabi’s usually in October.
“You get Islam versus Charles, then Justin Gaethje, who has told us that he’s going to wait for Islam Makhachev. You get Gaethje (second),” Cormier continued. “That third fight, to me, is the one I am a bit torn on. If you consider star power, you put him with Dustin Poirier, who should have fought and won at UFC 300. When talking pure skill and pure true to the sport. if Arman Tsarukyan can get through his fight (against Beneil Dariush), that might be the fight by the end of the year.”
Quotes via MMA News
It will be interesting to see what happens in the lightweight division in 2024.
