The Top 5 Opponents To Take On Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev versus Alexander Volkanovski is a fight that many people have been looking forward to this year. Ever since it was announced, fans pipped it to be one of the biggest events on the calendar for UFC 284. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint. While Makhachev emerged victorious, both men proved their skills and showed that either of them was deserving of the title.

Of course, with the final decision being unanimous, there’s maybe no denying that Islam earned the right to hold onto the lightweight belt. Could another opponent take it from him in the future, though? We want to look at the people who could face Makhachev moving forward and who would likely offer up a fight just as captivating as his match against Volkanovski. Maybe one of these men could be the one to dethrone him.

Beneil Dariush makes sense as the next man to take on Makhachev

Someone who’s absolutely deserving of fighting for the lightweight title against Islam Makhachev is Beneil Dariush. He definitely has the skills to try and dethrone the champion, although he’d be going into the match as something of an underdog. Who wouldn’t at this point, though? Plenty of fans would say that Dariush makes the most sense as the next guy to take on Makhachev. However, things may not play out that way. He’s reportedly set to take on Charles Oliveira at UFC 288, which could derail things. However, if Dariush comes out the other side successful, it might not be long before we see him and Makhachev duke it out. With eight consecutive wins under his belt, Beneil will almost certainly give as good as he gets.

Dustin Poirier would give Mahkachev one of his most exciting matches 

If it’s excitement that the fans want from a lightweight champion fight, Dustin Poirier would make for an excellent opponent. On paper, he might not seem like the biggest competition against someone like Makhachev. The man’s two attempts to claim the lightweight title have both ended in defeat, with one of those losses being against Islam’s mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov. However, that doesn’t mean putting Dustin in the ring would be an automatic win for Makhachev. He’s still one of the best fighters in the division, and he recently scored an impressive win against Michael Chandler. Plus, as we said, he brings a lot of excitement to his fights, so we could at least bank on the clash being an exhilarating watch.

Conor McGregor would generate a lot of attention if he took on Makhachev

When it comes to the UFC, there aren’t many stars as big as Conor McGregor. Now, he might not necessarily be the most capable fighter to take down Makhachev, given he hasn’t won anything since 2020. However, the rivalry that he has with Islam’s team is something that we don’t really see with any of the other names on this list. That alone would make for quite the showdown. Plus, this battle would probably prove pretty beneficial for both sides from a financial standpoint, given the potential to generate a ton of money through pay-per-view. McGregor would probably need to win in his upcoming reported fight against Michael Chandler to be a credible contender against Makhachev, though.

The winner of Gaethje versus Fiziev would make for an excellent fight

On March 18, there will be a showdown between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev at UFC 286. You could argue that whoever emerges victorious from this battle would be worthy of taking on Makhachev in the near future. In terms of Gaethje, he is again one of the best fighters that the lightweight division has right now. Although he might have been unsuccessful in several title fights, Gaethje still has the potential to score a win against the champion. Plus, if he were to beat Rafael Fiziev, it would put him in an even better position to go for the lightweight title. As for Fiziev, he’s been on quite a hot streak recently, even scoring wins against some exceptional fighters. He’s currently ranked sixth in the division, and beating Gaethje - who’s ranked third - would really give Fiziev momentum.

Alexander Volkanovski would be quite an exciting rematch

Alexander Volkanovski wasn’t able to dethrone Makhachev at UFC 284, but that doesn’t mean a rematch wouldn’t result in a different outcome. Volkanovski held his own against the lightweight champion and got in some great hits, ensuring that the match played out for five rounds. The fact that their combat was not only competitive but also exciting to watch means that fans would probably be quite welcoming of a rematch. However, it may not happen anytime soon. There are plenty of other featherweight and lightweight contenders for them to take on in the meantime. Plus, if they’re going to go head-to-head again, it’s good to put some distance in before they re-enter the ring. You’ve got to build up the anticipation, after all.

Do any of these men have what it takes to dethrone Makhachev? It’s possible, but it won’t be easy. Still, the lightweight champion has to go down eventually, right?