Since Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement, Islam Makhachev has been maintaining the Dagestani legacy with an impressive streak of victories against formidable opponents. Despite his dominant performances, Arman Tsarukyan, ahead of his UFC 300 bout, suggests that Makhachev is avoiding facing him, opting instead for a big-money fight.
In an interview with Morning Kombat, Tsarukyan pointed out that Makhachev seems to be eyeing a matchup with Dustin Poirier next, bypassing potential fights with Oliveira and himself. Tsarukyan believes that Makhachev sees him as a greater threat due to his formidable wrestling skills.
“I feel like Islam wants to steer clear of us. He sees me as a formidable opponent. Fighting Poirier might be more lucrative for him, so that’s why he’s interested,” Tsarukyan explained.
Tsarukyan suggests that financial incentives could be a motivating factor for Makhachev’s fight choices. Fighting Poirier, who boasts recent wins and a large fan base, could offer Makhachev a bigger payday.
Initially, Makhachev expressed interest in facing Justin Gaethje in June, but due to the limited time for recovery and training, he has shifted his focus to Poirier. Tsarukyan believes this decision is primarily driven by financial considerations. Meanwhile, Daniel Cormier has hailed Makhachev as even more dangerous than Khabib Nurmagomedov leading up to his upcoming fight.
